Clan-Members » opes to use the match to showcase

WASHINGTON -- Clayton Kershaw was hardly at his best.Nothing new when it comes to October.He allowed eight hits and three runs. He needed 101 pitches just to make it through five innings. His career postseason ERA even rose a bit, up to 4.65.Didnt matter a bit to the lefty. Only this did: He earned a rare playoff victory.Backed by early homers from rookie sensation Corey Seager and Justin Turner off Max Scherzer in a matchup of Cy Young Award winners that promised more than it delivered, Kershaw helped the Los Angeles Dodgers edge the Washington Nationals 4-3 Friday in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.It was a grind. A lot of guys on base all the time. Definitely wasnt easy, Kershaw said. As close as you can bend without breaking, I guess.His work done, Kershaw was able to relax in the dugout, chewing gum and blowing bubbles while watching relievers Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen combine to give up one hit over four scoreless innings. Jansen got his first five-out save since April.Whatever weve got to do to win, right? Those guys are up to the challenge, Seager said about the Dodgers bullpen. And theyve been up to it all year.Game 2 in the best-of-five matchup is Saturday at Washington.Facing the NL East champs, Kershaws three runs might not sound like an exorbitant total, but an opponent scored that many only once in the leftys preceding 16 starts. And there was a stop-and-start feel to the evening, because of plenty of boo-inducing mound visits from catcher Yasmani Grandal.I wanted to be sure on the signs. We were trying to change `em up pretty often, said Kershaw, who improved to 3-6 in the playoffs , a far cry from his regular-season record of 126-60 with a 2.37 ERA and three Cy Young Awards. It was mainly that I had so many guys on second base.Certainly did.Kershaw left the bases loaded in the second, and stranded two runners in both the third and fifth -- striking out Danny Espinosa along the way each time.We had him on the ropes a couple times, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said, and, you know, the big hit just escaped us.There was also a baserunning blunder by NL MVP contender Daniel Murphy in the seventh inning.Murphy, who hadnt started a game since Sept. 17 because of a strained glute muscle, reached when Baez walked him, but then was thrown out trying to steal second. Baker said it was Murphys decision to run there and acknowledged being surprised by the attempt.Theres two choices on that, Murphy said. Either be safe or dont run.In all, Washington went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.That meant the Nationals repeatedly let Kershaw off the hook. He sat out more than two months with a bad back before returning to the NL West winners in September and hadnt thrown more than 91 pitches since coming back.So what if he struggled?It feels good to win, and it feels good to win in this situation, Kershaw said. If I had pitched seven shutout innings and we lost, its a different feeling. At this time of year, you kind of just throw the stats out the window and you just win the game.He was staked to a 4-0 lead thanks mainly to Seager and Turner, before slowly giving back most of that margin.Kershaw allowed only one stolen base during 149 innings in the regular season, then allowed two on a single pitch in the third, when Bryce Harper (who had doubled) and Jayson Werth (who had walked) moved up. That became big when Anthony Rendon ripped a single to left field on a slider that didnt really slide, bringing both runners home and getting Washington to 4-2.Trea Turners sacrifice fly in the fourth cut the Dodgers lead to a run.Like Washingtons Turner, L.A.s Seager is a rookie who has not played like one all year long.On the first pitch he saw from Scherzer, Seager turned on a 97 mph fastball and hit it to the deepest part of Nationals Park, beyond the 402-foot sign in center field, for a 1-0 lead.Scherzer plunked the next batter, Justin Turner, on the left arm. For whatever reason, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner for Detroit -- and a 20-game winner whos a leading contender for the NL honor this year -- never truly settled in.The Dodgers made it 4-0 in the third on Chase Utleys RBI single, then Justin Turners two-run shot on a 77 mph curveball. The ball sailed over the head of Werth, who jumped in vain to try to make a grab, then slammed his glove against the left-field wall.Homers have been Scherzers biggest problem the past two seasons: He allowed 27 in 2015, and a major league-high 31 in 2016.I made some mistakes, and they cost me, Scherzer said. I take ownership of that, and Im accountable for that.MAKING HISTORYBaker and L.A.s Dave Roberts became the first pair of black managers to face off in a postseason series. During pregame introductions, they met near home plate for a long embrace.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen hours before Game 1 -- his first time on a mound since he hurt his right elbow a month ago. He was ruled out for the NLDS, but the Nationals hope he could return if the team advances. ... All-Star C Wilson Ramos, out for the season with a torn knee ligament, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.UP NEXTIn Game 2, RHP Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA) starts for the Nationals, taking the assignment that likely would have gone to Strasburg if he were healthy. LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 1.84 ERA in six starts after a trade from Oakland) will pitch for the Dodgers. He was let go from Washingtons Triple-A Syracuse affiliate last year. Padres Jerseys China . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Fake Padres Jerseys . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Padres Jerseys 2019 . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No.Mark Warburton believes his Rangers side will get the perfect preparation for the Scottish Cup final when they face Tottenham at the Londoners training base on Wednesday. Gers face the Premier League side in a behind-closed-doors friendly as they step up plans for their Hampden date with Hibernian, live on Sky Sports on May 21. It is unlikely the Scottish Championship winners will come up against many of Mauricio Pochettinos star names but Warburton believes the work-out is just what his side need as they chase a treble, having claimed the Petrofac Training Cup prior to securing the second tier title.When asked what strength of Spurs side he expects his side to face, he told RangersTV: Well find out, but whatever it will be it will be a technically gifted, very athletic team.Its always a stern challenge and its a magnificent training base, one of the very best in Europe, theres no doubt about that. So we know it will be a tough test and its what we need, we need that sharpener and that will hold us in good stead for the 21st. Rangers players celebrate winning the Petrofac Training Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow The match will take place at Tottenhams Enfield training base and Warburton insists Rangers can learn a lot from the club he supports.Its important for us in terms of it being the final game before the cup final, so that is the obvious benefit of that, he added.Were veery thankful to Spurs for their hospitality, they are a tremendous club and we can learn a lot from Tottenham.dddddddddddd I know Im talking as a Spurs fan here but forget the bias, their academy is first class with a number of players coming through. Dominic Ball returning to Spurs with Rangers You look at Harry Kane, Tom Carroll, Ryan Mason, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. Nabil Bentaleb is now coming through and so is Alex Pritchard. Its a fantastic academy. We have Dom Ball here whos been a credit to Spurs and to himself.Dom has come up and the players are hungry, so we are delighted to have a good relationship with Spurs and well go down there and look forward to what will be a very challenging game. Former Brentford boss Warburton also hopes to use the match to showcase Rangers as a potential destination should Spurs look to send out more of their youngsters on loan.Weve taken players in the past, we had young Alex Pritchard at Brentford last year, Dom Ball this year, said Warburton.Again, this shows we can create that environment that is conducive to the players development and hopefully strengthen the relationship with Tottenham. Also See: Rangers video Rangers fixtures Rangers stats Sky Bet Club Get a ￡10 free bet! ' ' '