Clutch moments from Ryan Zimmerman and ace Max Scherzer saved the Nationals’ season. The Nationals force Game 5 in the NLDS against the Dodgers after a 6-1 Game 4 win Monday.
How The Game Was Won
It’s hard to choose from two great moments from two different Nationals’ legends. First, leading 2-1 in the fifth, Ryan Zimmerman, “The Franchise,” “Mr. National” delivered a clutch three-run home run off Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez to extend the lead to 5-1.
Or there was the moment when after loading the bases with one out in the seventh inning, Scherzer closed the door on the Dodgers’ rally. He battled through an eight-pitch at-bat against Chris Taylor before striking him out for out number two. Then getting Joc Pederson to ground out to end the frame. A stoked Scherzer celebrated after emptying the tank, igniting a packed Nationals Park crowd.
Player of the Game
Max Scherzer. Really who else? The right-handed pitcher was marvelous silencing his postseason demons of the past. A Justin Turner home run in the first was his only run allowed. He gave up four hits and three walks, but struck out seven and used his entire repertoire for the postseason win on 109 pitches and seven innings.
Patient Bats Pay Off for Nationals
Dodgers starter Rich Hill wasn’t expected to do much over maybe 60 pitches, but the Nationals offense was calm and patient at the plate. As a result, they forced LA manager Brian Roberts to dig into his bullpen after just 2 2/3 innings. Anthony Rendon delivered two RBIs to give the Nationals the early 2-1 lead.
Then they teed off on bullpen with Zimmerman’s three-run blast highlighting their woken bats. Trea Turner went 3-for-5 with a ground-rule double and two runs scored. Rendon added his third RBI of the night in the sixth.
One can call it a gift from Roberts to essentially throw away Game 4 with his pitching strategy. Yet, the Nationals won’t complain taking the gift to Game 5.
Nationals Bullpen Finally Delivers
With a five-run lead, Sean Doolittle stepped in and prepared the bow on the game. He pitched 1 1/3 inning, allowing nothing while forcing three fly outs and one grounder. Doolittle got the game into the ninth with one out, as manager Davey Martinez turned to Daniel Hudson for the final two outs, extending the series to Wednesday. Seeing those two close the deal was refreshing.
Stephen Strasburg Takes the Mound in Game 5
It will be Stephen Strasburg taking the mound in Game 5 for the Nationals. It’s as perfect a setup by Martinez, placing Strasburg with an opportunity for a Game 5.
The Nationals could not ask for a better opportunity to move them past the NLDS for the first time in club history. He will most likely face Game 1 winner Walker Buehler for the Dodgers, setting up for an epic showdown for the right to move on the NLCS.
