A Chase Utley RBI single broke an eighth-inning tie, lifting the L.A. Dodgers to a 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals in Game 4 of the NLDS.
The win forces a deciding Game 5 at Nats Park on Thursday.
Washington had rallied from a 5-2 deficit with a three-run seventh, loading the bases with two outs against Clayton Kershaw, who was lifted for reliever Pedro Baez. Baez hit Jayson Werth with his first pitch, forcing home a run that made it 5-3, and was relieved by Luis Avilan, who gave up a game-tying two-run single to Daniel Murphy.
Blake Treinen got the first two outs in the bottom of the eighth for the Nationals, before hitting Andrew Toles with an off-speed pitch to put a runner on.
Pinch-hitter Andre Eithier singled to left, bringing up Utley, who ripped a 1-2 slider to right-center to plate Toles with the go-ahead run.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth to finish out the win.
Nats rookie Trea Turner was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, and Murphy was 2-for-3 with a franchise-record four RBIs.
Kershaw got a no-decision in his start for Los Angeles, going six and two-thirds innings, ultimately charged with five runs on seven hits, striking out 11 and walking two, throwing 110 pitches on three days rest.
Dodgers reliever Joe Blanton got the win with an inning and a third of scoreless relief.
Treinen took the loss for Washington.
Starter Joe Ross lasted just two and two-thirds innings for the Nationals, giving up four runs on three hits, striking out three and walking two.
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Chris Graham
