NLDS Game 1: Dodgers Beat Nationals 6-0, Lead Series 1-0
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals Thursday night.
The Dodgers led 1-0 at the end of the third after four walks by Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin in the first.
During the top of the fourth, it looked like the Nationals might score after Walker Buehler walked the bases loaded, but the young pitcher was able to get out of a jam with the third out of the inning. Buehler was at 76 pitches through four scoreless innings.
At the bottom of the fourth, the Dodgers got their first and second hits of the game — Max Muncy, followed immediately by Corey Seager — both against Corbin, but the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on the hits.
At the bottom of the fifth, the Dodgers led the Nationals 2-0 after a score by Cody Bellinger followed by a Chris Taylor out at home.
With his 100th pitch of the game, Buehler ended his sixth scoreless inning with only one hit. Buehler was relieved by Adam Kolarek at the top of the seventh to strike out Juan Soto before being relieved by Kenta Maeda.
In the bottom of the seventh, Max Muncy hit a single with bases loaded bringing Joc Pederson and Justin Turner home, increasing the score to 4-0.
In the bottom of the eighth, the score was 5-0 after the night's first home run by Gavin Lux — the youngest Dodgers player to homer in postseason history, according to Major League Baseball.
Lux's homer was followed by a single home run off the foul pole by Joc Pederson, bringing the score up to 6-0 in the bottom of the eighth.
Joe Kelly came in at the top of the ninth finishing Game 1 with a win for the Dodgers.
Throughout the night, Dodgers fans at the game rooted for a team with a record like no other.
"Seven consecutive National League titles, and 123 years before that, the record was two in a row," Mark Langill, Dodger historian, said. "Think of all those great teams, and they could only go back-to-back."
The Dodgers could be on the road to their first World Series win since 1988, and, if that wasn't reason enough to snap photos at Thursday night's game, this will also be the last postseason in Dodger Stadium as the city knows it — with a major renovation project planned for the ballpark.
"We'll be quadrupling the number of elevators, adding bridges and escalators so that by the 2020 season, Dodgers fans — all 56,000 — will be able to do a complete 360 around the ballpark and enjoy the things here in centerfield," Janet Marie Smith, stadium developer, said.
Fans were encouraged to arrive early to the game and purchase parking in advance, carpool or ride with Uber — the preferred ride of the Dodgers. The Dodger Stadium Express will continue to operate during the postseason from both Union Station and the South Bay, with service starting two hours before the game and free for everyone with a game ticket.
Thursday's game started at 5:37 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who won their seventh consecutive NL West title, will also host Game 2 on Friday with a scheduled start time of 6:37 p.m.
The best-of-five series shifts to Washington for Game 3 on Sunday and Game 4 on Monday, if necessary. A potential Game 5 would be held at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The Dodgers, who had the best W-L record in the National League, won home field advantage for the post season. Should they play the Astros in the World Series, home field would switch to Houston because the Astros won one more game than LA during the regular season.
