The 'Please Don't Screw This Up' - Nats-Dodgers Game 5 - Live Blog (Final Score: 4-3 LAD)
FOX SPORTS 1 — For those that can’t find the game, its on FS1
We’ve all heard it about a thousand times. The Washington Nationals have never won a playoff series. The Expos won one in 1981 but that’s it. We had a phenomenal opportunity to put the series away on Tuesday but, despite scoring 5 off of Clayton Kershaw, the game slipped away from Blake Treinen and the Nats in the bottom of the 8th.
The odds could not be better right here in game 5 though. Our ace, Max Scherzer, is tossing on regular rest while he opposes the resurgent 36 year old Rich Hill who last pitched on the 9th. We could not ask for a more favorable set of probable starters and whichever team’s starter manages to limit the damage early should win. Both teams have been scoring in the first few frames of each game this series (and the Nats have actually given up a run – or 2 – in the 1st in all four games of the series) so if Max Scherzer (who actually has a pretty mediocre 4.24 ERA in the 1st inning) can get off to a hot start, we are all that much closer to a clinch.
Follow along as the Washington Nationals attempt to win their first playoff series since moving to DC!
UPDATE 1: A nice defensive play and some strong pitching by Max Scherzer resulted in the first scoreless 1st inning for Nats pitching this series.
UPDATE 2: Rich Hill already injured? Glad he is staying in the game though.
UPDATE 3: Daniel Murphy gets a hit. I’m shocked
UPDATE 4: Now he stole a base. Love that man.
UPDATE 5: As bad as Ryan Zimmerman was in the regular season, he’s been doing everything right this series.
UPDATE 6: Now Murphy scores on an Espy single! 1-0 Nats
UPDATE 7: Hill does not look sharp and just winced after his last pitch to Scherzer
UPDATE 8: Crisp double play and a ground out and no Dodger has a hit through 3
UPDATE 9: Trea Turner is fast. I’ll just throw this in there because its so ridiculous:
Trea Turner = Stud.
Turner 2016: 73 games, 13 HR, 33 SB .342/.370/.567
Ichiro’s first 73 games: 3 homers, 27 SB .350/.377/.463#hmm #nats— Sam Alaska (@SAlaskaBarstool) October 3, 2016
UPDATE 10: The best ability is availability and Rich Hill showed up. 8 outs, 5 baserunners.
UPDATE 11: I’m updating way too frequently but if Dusty and the Nats keep stealing, I’ll keep updated; Nats could’ve gotten something there but still carrying the lead into the 4th.
UPDATE 12: No hits for the Dodgers through 4 ¯\_(?)_/¯
UPDATE 13: No-hitter gone for Scherzer but Nats still have the 1-0 lead
UPDATE 14: Brass balls on Scherzer including a huge Ethier K gets Nats out of the bases loaded jam. Still a 1-0 game! UPDATE 15: Great catch by Reddick keeps Daniel Murphy from extra bags
UPDATE 16: Terrible decision to send Jayson Werth there and he’s a sitting duck at the plate. Need some insurance runs but for now, its 1-0 Nats. Look at were Werth is then look at where the ball is.
The Nats sent Werth on this play and have now spent 2 of their last 4 outs in the basepaths. pic.twitter.com/0plcP4bt6D — Mr. Irrelevant (@MrIrrelevantDC) October 14, 2016
UPDATE 17: Joc Pederson just blasted one to left and tied it up. Werth had a chance to get some insurance and now the tying run just flew right over his head. 1-1
Bat flip so show. So show https://t.co/XMOHCxFPZE
— FredsBurnerAccount (@FredsBurner) October 14, 2016
UPDATE 18: Ball goes right through the infield and everything sucks. 2-1 LAD
UPDATE 19: 
4-1 Dodgers now. So many missed opportunities. 7th is still going on
UPDATE 20: Finally out of that hell of a half inning. Still got a chance.
UPDATE 21: Chris Heisey is the greatest bench bat of all time. 2 run jack and we are right back in this bitch
HOME RUN FOR HEISEY! #Nats are within one run in the 7th! #IBackTheNats pic.twitter.com/aWBgVbrFM5 — Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) October 14, 2016
UPDATE 22: Kenley Jansen is in in the 7th inning. He’s filthy but also blew 6 saves this year
UPDATE 23: LETS FUCKING GO! Harper singles, Joe Ross wheels it to 3rd. Still 1 out
UPDATE 24: 2 Outs but 2nd and 3rd with Daniel Murphy up. No one else I’d rather have at the plate. (IBB -bases loaded)
UPDATE 25: Rendon Ks with bases loaded. 4-3 Dodgers entering the 8th. If there were ever a great opportunity, it was just then. Jansen has already thrown 21 pitches
7th inning of Dodgers-Nationals
8 pitchers used, 60 total pitches thrown
Took 1 hour, 5 minutes, 55 seconds
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 14, 2016
UPDATE 26: Melancon intentionally walks the first batter then gets Culberson to ground out to end the top of the 8th
UPDATE 27: Jansen is at 29 pitches with 6 outs left in game (37 after the 8th). Season high is 30. Career high, in 2011, is 42.
UPDATE 28: Clayton Kershaw is warming in the pen. Walking off against Kershaw would be so perfect that there is no way they don’t win the World Series if that happens.
UPDATE 29: Do or Die bottom 9. Season on the line. Turner Ks. 1 out. Harper walks. 1 on
UPDATE 30: Kershaw is in the game. 110 pitches 2 days ago. Pitched game 1 too. He might die on the mound tonight. Murphy pops up. Its up to Wilmer Difo.
UPDATE 31: Nats lose. Season over.