Complete Team Effort Leads the Dodgers to the NLCS, 4-3 Over Nationals

The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to overcome a rough start by Rich Hill and were able to fend off the Washington Nationals 4-3. With the win Los Angeles has punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.

Outfielder Joc Pederson finally brought an end to what looked to be another early exit for the Blue Crew in October, when he crushed a first pitch home run over the left field wall in the seventh inning. The home run tied the game at one run apiece and led to the pulling of Washington starter Max Scherzer.

JOC TIES IT UP!

Pederson hits a solo home run off Max Scherzer in the 7th inning.

Nationals & Dodgers are tied, 1-1.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 14, 2016

That home run sparked the rally for the Dodgers the team would piece together four-run seventh inning. Furthermore, the Nationals were forced to burn six pitchers in the inning, which is a postseason record. The inning took over an hour to complete

During the duration of series the Dodgers struggled with runners on base, but the team pulled it together when it mattered most. Late season acquisition Carlos Ruiz knocked in a run off of Sammy Solis.

[graphiq id=”7HIa1JsvjTv” title=”Carlos Ruiz Postseason Profile” width=”600″ height=”663″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/7HIa1JsvjTv” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/14235/Carlos-Ruiz” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]

Two batters later Justin Turner tripled in two runs and the Dodgers were up 4-1. The once lifeless dugout of Los Angeles erupted with cheers and hand claps.

Julio Urias took over for two, one-hit innings and would leave the game in line for the win, which would make him the youngest to do so.

But much like previous seasons in the bottom of the inning Grant Dayton gave up a two-run home run to Nationals’ pinch hitter Chris Heisey, who led the league in pinch hit home runs this season. Following the home run, the game was 4-3 in favor of the Dodgers with Urias still in line for the win

One batter later the Dodgers turned to Kenley Jansen in the seventh inning the earliest since 2013. He answered the bell with two shutout innings on a career-high 51 pitches, before handing the ball to CLAYTON KERSHAW, for his first major league save. Just two days ago, Kershaw threw 110 pitches in the game four start.

The Dodgers’ dugout exploded with jubilation as the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS to face the Cubs. Check back for the latest Dodger News and Dodger Rumors this postseason.

https://twitter.com/BBTN/status/786789347659948032

The NLCS is set to start on Saturday in Chicago.

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