Offense, ‘pen lead LA to NLDS Game 1 win

WASHINGTON — If you haven’t followed the Dodgers closely this year, the way they won Game 1 of the National League Division Series Friday night against the Nationals is pretty much how they won the National League West.

They overcame a short outing by their starter, who happened to be Clayton Kershaw, slugged a couple of home runs off a tough right-handed starter, 20-game winner Max Scherzer, and rode four shutdown innings from the bullpen to hang on for a 4-3 win over the Nationals. Game 2 is Saturday at 4 p.m. ET/1 PT on FS1.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7   LAD 4, WAS 3 FS1 Gm 2 Oct. 8 4 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 10 4 or 6 p.m. WAS @ LAD MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 5 or 8 p.m. WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 5 or 8 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals • Dodgers vs. Nationals NLDS coverage

“That’s sort of been our formula all year long,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Corey Seager (3-for-16 in the postseason last year) hit a solo homer in the first inning and Justin Turner launched a two-run homer in the third inning after he was hit by a Scherzer slider on the left hand in his first at-bat. More >

“I made some mistakes, and they cost me,” Scherzer said. “Giving up those two home runs, I really feel like that was the difference in the ballgame. I take ownership of that, and I’m accountable for that.”

The Dodgers beat a right-handed starter, which they’ve done this year with regularity, but they won on the road, which they haven’t done. But they were 5-1 against Washington this year, including 2-1 on the road.

“This was a complete team win,” said Kershaw, 3-6 in postseason play.

Given a 4-0 lead, Kershaw needed 101 pitches to get through five innings, allowing three runs and striking out seven (including Danny Espinosa three times with runners in scoring position). More >

“You know, in a sense you feel you steal one when he doesn’t have his best stuff, because you know he’s going to be throwing well the next time he gets the ball,” Roberts said of Kershaw, who is 8-0 against Washington in regular-season play.

Kenley Jansen, the last of four Dodgers relievers, pulled off a five-out save with three strikeouts, as the Nationals went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners. Also relieving for the Dodgers was Joe …

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