Kershaw gets save, LA tops Nats 4-3 to win NLDS
WASHINGTON — A little past midnight in Game 5 of the NL Division Series, Clayton Kershaw emerged from the bullpen to pitch in relief for the first time in seven years.
Two outs later, the only save of his major league career in the books, Kershaw’s arms were raised and teammates were rushing to celebrate with a guy whose post-season performances have never carried the lustre of his regular-season success.
Coming in after closer Kenley Jansen issued a pair of one-out walks in the ninth inning, Kershaw got Daniel Murphy to pop out, then struck out Wilmer Difo to end it. That finished the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals that decided their NL Division Series in the wee hours of Friday.
The Dodgers won the last two games of the best-of-five NLDS and now head to the NL Championship Series to face the Chicago Cubs. That opens at Wrigley Field on Saturday night.