Playoff veteran Utley rises to the occasion

LOS ANGELES — For those wondering why the Dodgers would re-sign an aging Chase Utley last winter, the answer turned out to be, the fall.

Utley has won one Fall Classic (2008) with the Phillies, and he kept the Dodgers alive in their quest for another on Tuesday. He singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, made a diving glove flip to closer Kenley Jansen on the final play and shared hero status with Clayton Kershaw and many others in the 6-5 win that deadlocked the National League Division Series. Game 5 is set for Thursday in Washington (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FS1).

“For the most part, you’re in that situation a lot over the course of a season,” Utley said of his at-bat. “You obviously try to keep it simple and try to put a good at-bat together. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. Today it did.”

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 7   LAD 4, WAS 3 Gm 2 Oct. 9   WSH 5, LAD 2 Gm 3 Oct. 10   WAS 8, LAD 3 Gm 4 Oct. 11   LAD 6, WAS 5 Gm 5 Oct. 13 8 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 All times listed ET • Division Series start time scenarios • Dodgers vs. Nationals NLDS coverageShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals

Utley rebounded from hitting .212 last year to emerge as a leadoff-batting regular, team leader and postseason star. Those who play with him aren’t surprised.

“I don’t want to downplay it,” said winning reliever Joe Blanton, …

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