Nationals vs. Dodgers score: Howie Kendrick grand slam stuns Dodgers in extras, sends Nats to NLCS

CBS Sports ^ | October 10, 2019 | Katherine Acquavella

[EdnaMode]

The Washington Nationals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-3, in 10 innings in Game 5 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night. Washington advances to the NL Championship Series to face the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Nationals fought their way back to take the lead after they entered the ninth inning tied 3-3.

[Preachin']

That’s funny!!!

[nobamanomore]

Well, the obvious answer is that the Dodgers aren’t that good, nor were the Twins. As an ex college player, I may have a little insight, but actually it’s common sense. All MLB teams play almost half their games in division. Three of the four teams the Dodgers played in division had losing records. The twins division was worse, I think three teams had average losses of 102 games each, the Dodgers division all four teams averaged about 90 losses each. Meanwhile the Cardinals were fighting a three-way battle with good teams. Their record is not as good because of that. The Nationals are in a division with only one team under .500. These super sports guys on TV never seem to figure this out, it isn’t hard, they just look at the total wins and declare them champions!

[outofsalt]

Highlights of the series https://www.mlb.com/video/nationals-move-on-to-nlcs Go Nats!

[stylecouncilor]

Ugh!!!

[pgkdan]

NATS!!!

[americas.best.days...]

Love watching Scherzer pitch, even though he had kind of an off year.

[COBOL2Java]

So nice to see the hated Dodgers lose.

My Mom never forgave the Dodgers after they left Brooklyn.

She's smiling up in Heaven. :-)

[sphinx]

Age is starting to sneak up on Max. Happens to everyone, even future Hall of Famers.

[hardspunned]

Damned funny because its soooo true.

[sphinx]

Good point. It is also worth remembering that most people, during preseason, were picking the Nats to win the NL East. No one anticipated that the Nats' bullpen would be as bad as it turned out to be. Heck, I didn't know it was possible for a bullpen to be that bad. Atlanta had a great season, but had the Nats had even average relief pitching, they would have edged out Atlanta. And then they lost Rendon, Turner and Zimmerman to early season injuries. The Nats' recovery from a 19-31 start was terrific, but this team had potential all along.

I don't know why it took the Nats so long to figure out the bullpen issues. The solution was obvious by mid-May. They needed to go into the 7th inning with an eight run lead to have a chance of hanging on to win by one or two. I don't know why Davey didn't figure that out a lot sooner. The trades at the deadline helped some, but the bullpen will still probably be their undoing.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Well my playoff bracket is toast.

I NEVER saw the Braves and Dodgers losing Game Five at home.

[musicman]

BTTT

[raygunfan]

I really hope this puts to rest those insane yearly comparisons that CK has been getting to SK...there simply is no comparison.

one was a true superstar regular and POST SEASON...and ck is just a fine regular season thrower....

[gr8eman]

Me too! Never liked the Dodgers. I woke up right after the players rounded the bases. It was awesome watching the Nats come back from a 3-0 deficit with 4 homers!

[Verginius Rufus]

In 1994 the other Canadian team had a chance to become only the third team to win three World Series in a row (besides the Yankees and the A's), but then the strike happened. They were not leading their division when the strike started but who knows how the season would have ended.

Glad to see the Dodgers out of the running...but was kind of hoping they would be the losing team in the World Series. The same team hasn't lost 3 consecutive World Series in over 100 years (the Tigers did it 1907 to 1909, losing twice to the Cubs, and the Giants did it 1911 to 1913).

[Verginius Rufus]

If the Nationals get to the World Series, no matter whether they play Houston or Tampa Bay, it will be the first time two expansion teams (started in 1961 or later) face each other in the World Series.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Interesting, I didn’t know that. So all World Series matchups in the expansion era, have included at least one of the original 16 franchises.

The Expos/Nationals franchise has never been to the world Series. Stay tuned to see if they make history.

[Verginius Rufus]

Of the expansion teams, the Marlins, Blue Jays, Royals, and Mets have twice won the World Series. The Astros, Diamondbacks, and Angels have won once. The Rockies, Brewers, and Rays have been in one World Series but lost. The Padres and Rangers have been in two World Series and lost both times.

The only teams which have never been in a World Series are the Mariners and the Nationals. The Nationals (formerly Expos) date back to 1969 and the Mariners to 1977.

[dfwgator]

St. Louis, regardless of their regular season record, always gets hot at the right time, they will be tough to beat.

[nobamanomore]

The other thing to remember about playoffs is that you don’t need 5 starting pitchers, you need 2 killers. You can have one pitch the first game, the 2nd, then a travel day, use another pitcher the next day, the let them pitch again. They can pitch on three days rest and pitch four out of five games in the series.