Nationals make comeback win, ending Dodgers season

Howie Kendrick’s grand slam in the 10th inning ended the Dodgers’ hope of advancing to the National League Championship Series. They fell to the Nationals by a score of 7-3 to end their 2019 season.

The game started off on an extremely high note — Joc Pederson hit was seemed to be a home run, but upon further review, it was determined it was, indeed, not a home run. Turns out, the ball got through the bullpen gate fence in left field. In other words, it didn’t clear the fence, so it was ruled a double.

The Dodger Stadium crowd didn’t have to wait long for another home run celebration, since Max Muncy hit a real home run just five pitches later.

The hype continued through to the second inning, when Kiké Hernández hit a leadoff home run to extend the Dodgers lead to three runs.

After the second inning, Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg held the Dodgers down for the rest of his outing. Strasburg exited after six innings and 105 pitches. He allowed six hits and one walk to get by him to allow the three runs. He did deal after the second, though, striking out six batters in four innings.

On the other side of starting pitching, Walker Buehler was spectacular. And it helped the Dodgers had a lead before he even got on the mound. The young right hander didn’t allow a runner past second base through the first five innings, keeping the innings efficient.

It was an unpopular opinion, but Buehler was let loose to pitch the seventh inning after his pitch count was already nearing 100. He was in until he got two guys out, but after hitting one batter and walking another, bringing his pitch count up to 117.

The game was put in Clayton Kershaw’s hands to close out the seventh and stuck out Adam Eaton on three pitches to hold the lead.

Then came the eighth inning when things started to unravel for Kershaw. He gave up home runs on the second and third pitches of the inning, to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto, respectively. These homers brought the Nationals back to life, tying the game at three.

After giving up the Soto homer, Dave Roberts replaced Kershaw with Kenta Maeda, who struck out the next three batters he faced.

The Dodgers didn’t get any runs on the board against Patrick Corbin in the eighth and Joe Kelly came in for the Dodgers in the top of the ninth. It was a clean, 10-pitch inning, but then he came in to also pitch in the 10th inning.

The 10th began with Adam Eaton drawing a walk, followed by a ground-rule double hit by Anthony Rendon. With no outs, Joe Kelly intentionally walked Soto to get to old friend Kendrick.

The events that followed are not for the faint of heart.

Kendrick hit a homer to make the game 7-3 and essentially ending the Dodgers’ season with the swing of the bat.

The Dodgers offense went down in order in the bottom of the 10th to seal the deal.

NLDS Game 5 particulars

WP: Daniel Hudson, 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K

LP: Joe Kelly, 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Box score