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SPORTS Tuesday 8 OcTOber 2019
7 2-out runs in 6th lift LA past Nats 10-4

By HOWARD FENDRICH Freese said.
AP Sports Writer Martin, who like Freese is 36,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Da- tacked on a two-run homer
vid Freese wasn't in the Los in the ninth. This is Martin's
Angeles Dodgers' starting 10th postseason — Freese
lineup for Game 3 of the NL joked it might be his team-
Division Series. Neither was mate's 26th — and Freese's
Kiké Hernández or Chris sixth.
Taylor. The Dodgers can advance
All are right-handed bat- to the NL Championship
ters, and all knew that if Series for the fourth consec-
the Washington Nationals utive year by closing the
persisted in their playoff best-of-five NLDS in Game
pattern of using starters in 4 at Washington on Mon-
relief, they might very well day, when LA sends Rich
be called upon to pinch Hill to the mound against
hit against $140 million lefty Max Scherzer.
Patrick Corbin. And to think: Things were
So in the first inning Sunday not looking all that good
night, that trio headed to for the Dodgers, who en-
the indoor batting cage tered the sixth trailing 2-1
that sits near the staircase after Juan Soto's two-run
leading from the visitors' homer off eventual winner
dugout to the clubhouse Hyun-Jin Ryu in the first and
to try to prepare. And, boy, Max Muncy's solo shot off
were they prepared when Washington starter Aníbal
Corbin entered. So were Sánchez in the fifth.
other Dodgers hitters, pro- That seemed to wake up
ducing a postseason inning LA's offense.
unlike any other: seven Well, it was either that or
runs, all scored with two the fact that Sánchez, who
outs and two strikes. struck out nine, was gone
Justin Turner's three-run to begin the sixth. In came Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin covers his face after allowing a two-run dou-
homer capped a startling Corbin, the lefty who start- ble to Los Angeles Dodgers Russell Martin during the sixth inning in Game 3 of a baseball National
and record-setting rally in ed — and lost — the open- League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. The Dodgers won 10-4.
the sixth as the Dodgers er and hadn't made a relief Associated Press
roughed up the starter- appearance since 2017,
turned-reliever and beat when he only made one. ters. That's when it all fell those things where once his teams having lost his
Washington 10-4 to grab a "Just couldn't seem to get apart for Washington. one guy started doing it, most recent seven post-
2-1 lead in their best-of-five that third out there," Corbin Freese, the MVP of the 2011 the next cat picked up on season appearances, but
NLDS. said. "Just stinks." NLCS and World Series for it and it just kind of rolled Washington is 2-0 when he
"We're just always ready, no It continued Nationals St. Louis, singled to put run- throughout the inning." pitches so far this October,
matter who's on the mound. manager Dave Martinez's ners on the corners. WHAT A RELIEF including a start in the NL
Righty, lefty. You've got to postseason penchant for "He has to be going down With baseball's ERA leader wild-card game against
fake it sometimes, whether pushing his starters to ap- as one of the greatest Oc- this season, Ryu, done af- Milwaukee and a one-in-
you're ready or not," said pear in relief, deemed nec- tober players of all time," ter going five innings and ning, three-strikeout relief
Freese who singled as a essary because of his club's Muncy said. "I don't care allowing two runs, Dodg- appearance in Game 2 at
pinch hitter in the sixth and NL-worst bullpen. The strat- what anyone says. He has ers manager Dave Roberts Los Angeles. That bullpen
finished with four hits. egy had been working. to be." pieced together the re- use led the Nationals to
"Definitely, two strikes, Needless to say, not this Martin came through on maining 12 outs with five re- switch Scherzer's start from
you've got to take it seri- time against the Dodgers, a 2-2 slider that landed on lievers. That included closer Sunday to Monday. "He
ously. You can't assume who lost in the World Series the warning track in left- Kenley Jansen, who hadn't can beat you in the strike
your AB's over," Freese said. each of the past two years center, putting the visitors pitched in a game since zone with three pitches. He
"You look at the best guys in and led the NL with 106 ahead 3-2. Hernández con- Sept. 28. He threw a 1-2-3 can beat you out of the
the game ... they look like wins this season, 13 more nected on a 1-2 slider for ninth that included a pair zone," Roberts said. "He's
they like two strikes." than the Nationals. yet another two-run double of strikeouts. relentless." Hill went 4-1 with
Hernández also entered in "Aníbal was at 87 pitches. to left-center, a hit off the TRAINER'S ROOM a 4.25 ERA this season in just
that inning and contribut- He gave us all he had. We base off the wall. Nationals: CF Victor Robles 13 starts; he spent time on
ed a two-run double, and were at a good spot in the After Muncy was intention- was out of the lineup with the IL with a sprained right
Taylor walked as a pinch lineup, where we thought ally walked, Wander Su- a strained right hamstring knee and a strained left
hitter against Corbin. Corbin could get through ero entered and promptly after getting hurt running forearm, activated for the
Russell Martin started, his it," Martinez said. "And his served up a full-count fast- to first base in Game 2. Mi- last time less than a month
first appearance of these stuff was good. ... But he ball that Turner lofted to the chael A. Taylor started in ago. Hill hasn't pitched
playoffs, and hit a two-run had every hitter 0-2. He just back of the visiting bullpen Robles' place and went 1 more than three innings
double in the sixth as LA be- couldn't finish." beyond left field, making it for 4. in an appearance since
came the first team in ma- After Cody Bellinger 8-2. UP NEXT June. "Pitch count, whatev-
jor league history to score snapped his 0-for-8 start to "A couple guys came up Three-time Cy Young er it is, I can't control that,"
seven two-out, two-strike the series with a single — and had really big at bats Award winner Scherzer was the 39-year-old Hill said.
runs in one postseason in- he would add a double and that's what we've pushed back from Game "Whatever I can give the
ning. later in the inning — Corbin been doing all year," Mun- 3 to Game 4. Scherzer en- team, I'm going to give the
"We never doubt ourselves," struck out the next two hit- cy said. "That was one of tered these playoffs with team."q