Dodgers beat Nationals, 4-3, to take Game 1 of best-of-five NLDS

The Dodgers, including Manager Dave Roberts, stand for the national anthem before Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday at Nationals Park.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A philosophical sea change can take many forms. On Friday evening, in the sixth inning of a 4-3 Dodgers victory in Game 1 of their National League division series, the symbol was a bullpen door opening.

The summer prepared Dave Roberts for nights like this. He spent his first six months as manager of Dodgers watching his starting pitchers struggle, unable to provide distance in games. He saw something similar unfold inside a ballpark filled to the brim with the blood-red color of the Nationals.

His starter was reeling. The game hung in the balance. Roberts understood what he had to do.

For three years, the Dodgers asked Clayton Kershaw to carry them through October. On Friday, the group carried him. Kershaw logged five bruising innings before Roberts entrusted his relievers for the final 12 outs. Joe Blanton picked up the first two. Grant Dayton secured two. Pedro Baez recorded three.

The last five were the responsibility of Kenley Jansen. He yielded a two-out double in the eighth inning, but recovered to freeze former Dodger Chris Heisey with a full-count cut fastball for the third out. Jansen struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, but returned for three quick outs to close out the evening.

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BOTTOM OF NINTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

After throwing 12 pitches to get out of the eighth inning and batting in the top of the ninth, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen opposed Trea Turner to begin the ninth inning. He struck him out on three pitches, all cutters, and then continued to throw cutter after cutter to Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth. Harper lined out to second; Werth struck out. Jansen threw 27 pitches in all. The Dodgers squeezed a win out of Washington, 4-3, and need two more victories in four tries to advance to the National League Championship Series.

TOP OF NINTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Washington Manager Dusty Baker deployed his closer, Mark Melancon, to preserve the one-run game in the top half of the ninth. Melancon quickly struck out Charlie Culberson and Joc Pederson before Yasmani Grandal laced a first-pitch single to right and Howie Kendrick singled up the middle. Grandal took off for third, a decision that seemed ill-advised, but Trea Turner’s throw from center was errant, and he reached safely. Kendrick took second, too, so Melancon intentionally walked Yasiel Puig to load the bases. Because of Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts’ two double switches, that brought up closer Kenley Jansen for his fifth big league plate appearance. He struck out on five pitches, preserving a sure-to-be tense bottom of the ninth.

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Pedro Baez recorded one out, a Ryan Zimmerman flyout to left field, before Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts called on Kenley Jansen from the bullpen for a five-out save. Jansen logged only one five-out save this season, in April. That was his first time logging five or more outs in a game since July 2013. Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew helped him out by popping up his first pitch into foul territory, where Justin Turner caught it. Next, former Dodger Clint Robinson lashed a double down the left-field line, and another former Dodger, Chris Heisey, approached as a pinch-hitter. The count went to 3-and-2 before Jansen landed a 95-mph cutter at the knees for a called third strike. The Dodgers’ lead remained, 4-3, with one more inning to play.

TOP OF EIGHTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

As Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis stayed in the game for a second inning, Corey Seager grounded out to begin the eighth. In a 2-0 count, Justin Turner hammered a changeup at the bottom of the zone to the left-center gap. Jayson Werth chased it down to prevent a double, and Adrian Gonzalez quickly grounded out. Pedro Baez re-emerged from the dugout for the bottom of the inning while closer Kenley Jansen warmed to enter at any time.

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3
Grant Dayton struck out Jayson Werth, then walked Daniel Murphy, then exited the game. Right-hander Pedro Baez entered in another double switch, with Charlie Culberson replacing Chase Utley at second base. On Baez’s second pitch to Anthony Rendon, Murphy took off for second. Grandal threw him out, and Baez induced a pop-out from Rendon to end the inning. Up 4-3, the Dodgers are six outs away from taking a 1-0 lead in this National League Division Series. Baez will likely be asked to get a few more of those outs before closer Kenley Jansen’s time comes.

TOP OF SEVENTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Joc Pederson began the inning by striking out against left-hander Sammy Solis. Yasmani Grandal followed by sneaking a baseball through to left field. Howie Kendrick pinch-hit for Andrew Toles and notched a swinging bunt that pushed Grandal to second. The Nationals opted to intentionally walk Yasiel Puig, who hits left-handers well, and have Solis face Utley instead. Utley grounded out to end the inning, and Dodgers left-hander Grant Dayton headed out to begin the bottom of the seventh.

BOTTOM OF SIXTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Joe Blanton used four breaking balls to retire Pedro Severino, a breaking ball and two changeups to retire pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo, and, finally, a fastball to begin Trea Turner’s at-bat. Then he threw four sliders, three of them balls, and Turner walked. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts made a double switch, bringing in left-hander Grant Dayton while substituting Yasiel Puig for Josh Reddick in right field. Dayton, a 28-year-old rookie, fired a 1-and-2 fastball, and Bryce Harper lashed it to right-center, where Puig caught it one step in front of Joc Pederson. Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis warmed and will enter for the top half of the seventh inning.

TOP OF SIXTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Corey Seager flew out. Justin Turner then singled up the middle and took second on a Max Scherzer wild pitch while Adrian Gonzalez batted. Gonzalez grounded out to push Turner to third, but Josh Reddick grounded out to end the inning. Right-hander Joe Blanton warmed throughout and will be entering for the bottom half of the sixth, trying to preserve the Dodgers’ 4-3 lead.

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Jayson Werth led off the inning with a single to left. Daniel Murphy popped out, but Anthony Rendon ripped a liner off Justin Turner’s glove at first base. As Clayton Kershaw’s pitch count stretched to its highest total since his disabled-list stint, setup man Joe Blanton began to warm in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Catcher Yasmani Grandal visited the mound. The Nationals Park crowd began to chant “Ker-shaw.” Ryan Zimmerman flew out. Danny Espinosa struck out for the third time tonight, and Kershaw was out of the inning with the lead. At 101 pitches, his night’s likely done. He struck out seven, walked one, and yielded eight hits and three runs.

TOP OF FIFTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Andrew Toles ripped a 105-mph line drive to right field to begin the inning, but Bryce Harper corralled it. Next, batting for himself, Clayton Kershaw struck out on six pitches and Chase Utley struck out on four to end another quick inning for Max Scherzer, who has thrown just 69 pitches.

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3

Clayton Kershaw cursed himself for missing a slider that brought the count against Nationals catcher Pedro Severino to 3-and-1, and then served up a smashed double on a high fastball. As left-hander Luis Avilan warmed in the Dodgers’ bullpen, Severino took third on a Max Scherzer groundout to second, again bobbled by Chase Utley. Trea Turner lofted a baseball deep enough to center to score Severino. Kershaw got Bryce Harper to pop out to end the inning. His pitch count at 83, Kershaw is due up second in the top half of the fifth.

TOP OF FOURTH: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 2

The Dodgers went down quickly, as Josh Reddick grounded out to third, Joc Pederson popped out to short, and Yasmani Grandal flew out to left. The Dodgers’ bullpen that began to stir during Clayton Kershaw’s rough third inning again went still. Max Scherzer’s pitch count remained at just 55.

BOTTOM OF THIRD: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 2

Trea Turner struck out swinging after swinging at and missing three consecutive breaking balls. Bryce Harper fouled off the first pitch he saw, then smacked the second into the right-field corner for a double. Jayson Werth walked while Clayton Kershaw and catcher Yasmani Grandal appeared to struggle to communicate, repeatedly meeting on the mound. Daniel Murphy, one of Kershaw’s past playoff tormenters, flew out harmlessly to left. With two outs, the Nationals pulled off a double steal, and Anthony Rendon laced a two-strike single into left to score two runs and halve the Dodgers’ lead. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt approached the mound for a visit, but Kershaw next permitted another single to Ryan Zimmerman. Danny Espinosa, the potential go-ahead run, finally struck out to end the inning as Kershaw’s pitch count rose to 66.

TOP OF THIRD: DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 0

Andrew Toles continued to do what he did throughout his debut season in the majors and led off with a hit, a single to center field. Clayton Kershaw bunted him over, and Chase Utley followed with a run-scoring single into right. Corey Seager beat out a potential double-play ball, and then Justin Turner lashed another first-pitch home run — on a hanging curveball from Max Scherzer. Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to end the inning as the Dodgers took a pronounced 4-0 lead.

BOTTOM OF SECOND, DODGERS 1, NATIONALS 0

Daniel Murphy dumped a ball up the middle for the Nationals’ first hit. Clayton Kershaw responded by inducing a double-play ball from Anthony Rendon, but the Dodgers could not turn it quickly enough. Rendon reached first, then took second when Ryan Zimmerman’s subsequent grounder snuck by Corey Seager at shortstop. As the crowd grew louder, Kershaw plopped in a curveball in an 0-and-2 count to Danny Espinosa. Espinosa’s swing was way off. Next, Nationals rookie catcher Pedro Severino grounded a first-pitch fastball to second base Chase Utley. He should have been able to obtain an inning-ending force at second, but he bobbled the ball and got nothing. Pitcher Max Scherzer batted next, as fans stood and the count grew to 3-and-2. Scherzer lofted a ball into short left field, and Seager chased it down to silence the crowd.

TOP OF SECOND, DODGERS 1, NATIONALS 0

Josh Reddick struck out to lead off the Dodgers’ second attempt to score against Max Scherzer. Joc Pederson popped out in foul territory, and Yasmani Grandal struck out swinging after aggressively attempting to notch a hit on another first-pitch fastball.

BOTTOM OF FIRST: Dodgers 1, Nationals 0

Clayton Kershaw set up rookie Nationals stalwart Trea Turner exactly as he planned and struck him out on a daunting 90-mph slider. Bryce Harper followed by striking out after Kershaw flirted with his sidearm delivery, cribbed from the Dodgers’ Game 2 starter, Rich Hill. Jayson Werth, too, struck out, flailing at a curveball to end the first inning at Nationals Park.

Top of First: Dodgers 1, Nationals 0

Chase Utley took a first-pitch strike down the middle from Max Scherzer, battled to five pitches, and struck out swinging on a biting cutter. Corey Seager lashed a first-pitch, 97-mph fastball for a solo homer to straightaway center field. Justin Turner fouled off the first pitch he saw, another 97-mph fastball, and then took a slider off his left hand. He stayed in the game after examination. Adrian Gonzalez then pounded a 2-and-2 fastball into an inning-ending double play.

Rich Hill

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Rich Hill’s quest to cure the blisters that shaved off one-third of his dominant, mystifying 2016 season stopped at little. The 36-year-old left-hander took advice from Sandi Scully, Vin Scully’s wife, and an unnamed person who recommended he urinate on them.

“I mean, you might as well try it,” Hill said Friday afternoon at Nationals Park, in a lengthy news conference the day before he takes the mound for Game 2 of the Dodgers-Nationals NLDS.

He did try the suggested remedy. He does not think it worked. Hill had been asked for the weirdest suggestion he heard during his bout with blisters. He answered with the urine, but there were others: Sandi Scully suggested applying a water-and-vinegar concoction and then drinking it.

Acquired from Oakland on Aug. 1, Hill has espoused the virtue of living in the moment. He believes that renewed focus carried him here, to the biggest stage yet more than 14 years into his professional career.

Washington right-hander Tanner Roark, Hill’s Game 2 counterpart, said he woke up Friday already nervous. Hill said he was not.

“Someone told me, ‘You prepare so that the occasion rises to you, not so that you rise to the occasion,’ ” Hill said.

Hill spent 2015 spring training with the Nationals in Viera, Fla., then pitched in relief for triple-A Syracuse until the start of summer. He opted out of his contract, worked out with an American Legion team back home in Massachusetts, pitched for an independent team on Long Island and then signed a minor league deal with Boston. He made five triple-A starts and then four dominant starts for the Red Sox before the season ended, received interest from several teams and signed a one-year, $6-million deal with Oakland. He will make much more this off-season.

In 2006, Hill played for Nationals Manager Dusty Baker with the Chicago Cubs, the team that drafted him and the first of his 10 major league organizations.

Major League Baseball announced the times for the rest of the Dodgers-Nationals series. Here they are (all times PDT):

Game 2: Today at Washington, 1 p.m. TV: FS1

Game 3: Monday at Dodgers, 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. TV: MLBN

Game 4: Tuesday at Dodgers, 2 p.m. (5 p.m. if only one NLDS game) TV: FS1

Game 5: Thursday at Washington 2 p.m. (5 p.m. if only one NLDS game). TV: FS1

Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts this afternoon indicated he elected to start rookie Andrew Toles in left field primarily because of defense, but noted Toles’ proficiency against fastballs from right-handers. Across his order, Roberts sought to bat left-handed hitters Friday night, citing Washington starter Max Scherzer’s pronounced right-left splits.

Left-handers logged a .757 OPS against Scherzer this season, a mark above the major league average. In nearly equal time, right-handers hit .156 with a substandard .477 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Nationals Manager Dusty Baker joked earlier about the Dodgers’ lineup. Only No. 3 hitter Justin Turner hits right-handed.

“They have every left-hander in the world in their lineup today,” he said.

Clayton Kershaw

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

How to beat Clayton Kershaw? How about working the umpires?

Washington Nationals Manager Dusty Baker played that angle publicly before Friday’s opener of the National League division series, urging the umpires to watch closely when Kershaw employs his pickoff move.

“I’m hoping we get some base runners,” Baker said, “and the umpires might call a balk or two on him.”

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Corey Seager will be a key on offense for the Dodgers.

(Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

Los Angeles Times Dodgers reporter Andy McCullough handicaps the National League division series between the Dodgers and Washington Nationals. Spoiler alert: A lot depends on how well Clayton Kershaw performs tonight.

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The Dodgers’ Jeff Kent, left, and J.D. Drew were both tagged out at home by Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca in the second inning of Game 1 of the 2006 National League division series.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The baseball that Charlie Culberson yanked over the left-field fence is a souvenir.

The final farewell from Vin Scully is a video on YouTube.

With the last dizzying couple of weeks in the distance, Dodgers fans will now stop the celebrating and reminiscing to do what they do best.

It being October, they will commence worrying.

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Dave Roberts

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Inside his office at Dodger Stadium, two weeks before embarking on his first playoff run as a manager, Dave Roberts picked up his phone and dialed a man who delivered four titles to Los Angeles.

Pat Riley was expecting the call.

Roberts grew up in San Diego watching Riley’s Lakers. Now he spent about 20 minutes soliciting advice from the sideline maestro of Showtime.

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