NLDS Game 2: Nationals draw even as Dodgers bats fizzle

Jose Lobaton races around the bases after delivering a go-ahead three-run homer. (AP)

Finally, a competitive series. With the other three League Division Series on the verge of sweeps, the Washington Nationals were able to draw even Sunday, winning Game 2 of their NLDS 5-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers were in a good position to take charge of the series after jumping out to a 2-0 lead. The story quickly changed to missed opportunities, as the Dodgers mustered just one hit after Nationals starter Tanner Roark was replaced in the fifth inning.

It was the opposite story for Washington’s offense. After striking out against Rich Hill five times during their first trip through the order, they started firing back in the fourth inning. That’s when fill-in catcher Jose Lobaton delivered the biggest hit of the game in the form of a three-run home run. The Nationals would tack on single runs in the fifth and seventh innings while Dusty Baker leaned on his bullpen.

Both Hill and Nationals start Tanner Roark were removed after 4 1/3 innings. Hill was charged with four runs on six hits and two walks. He added seven strikeouts. Roark allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks. His line would have looked much worse if not for Jayson Werth’s diving grab to kill a Dodgers scoring with the bases loaded.

• Filling in for injured fan favorite Wilson Ramos, backup Jose Lobaton provided a huge spark for Washington with his three-run homer in the fourth inning. That erased a 2-0 deficit and may have turned the series around for Washington.

• Postseason legend Daniel Murphy picked up three hits and reached base all four times up. His latest big day included a pair of two-run singles.

• Two games, two first-inning homers for Corey Seager. The rookie shortstop was a bright spot for the Dodgers’ offense, belting a 3-0 pitch from Tanner Roark into the right-field seats after being buzzed on the first pitch and taking another right near his knees. Neither appeared to be intentional, but Seager authored the perfect response regardless.

• The Dodgers couldn’t find their clutch on Sunday, going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They loaded the bases three different times and were 0-for-5 in those situations. Overall, they left 12 runners on base.

• Yasmani Grandal had a particularly rough day in run-scoring situations. In the third inning, he grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. With the bases loaded again in the fifth, he struck out. He finished 0-for-3 with a walk.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Dodgers had a chance to answer Lobaton’s three-run homer but just couldn’t do it. Down 3-2, the Dodgers loaded the bases after singles by Justin Turner and Josh Reddick, then a walk to Yasiel Puig. Yasmani Grandal then struck out (he also ended the third inning by hitting into a double play). That left it up to pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick, who hit a laser into left field that came off the bat at 106 mph — but right at Jayson Werth, who made a sliding catch with an emphatic fist-pump. At that point, the tenor of the game had definitely changed.

With the series now tied at one game apiece, how will the lack of an off day affect Game 3? The two teams are flying across the country after Sunday’s game, prepping for a game that would start as early as 1 p.m. local time if the Blue Jays don’t knock out the Rangers in Sunday’s late game.

Game 2 of the Nats-Dodgers series wasn’t a short one, lasting four hours and requiring eight relief pitchers. Not only will we be wondering how awake both teams will be in Game 3, we’ll also be wondering how much these bullpens have left in the tank.

His home run wasn’t enough to save them Sunday, but Corey Seager’s early postseason power has been rare for a shortstop.

 Corey Seager is the first shortstop with two dingers in an LDS since Stephen Drew in 2007. Only one SS — Nomar in '98 — has hit three.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) October 9, 2016

Thanks to Saturday’s rainout the teams lost their off day to travel on Sunday. That means a long flight to Los Angeles and a quick turnaround with Game 3 scheduled to be played at 4:00 p.m. ET. At least it will be a happy flight for the Nationals. They will roll with left-hander Gio Gonzalez (11-11, 4.57), who traveled ahead to Los Angeles on Sunday. The Dodgers will counter with Kenta Maeda (16-11, 3.48).