Washington scored four runs in the ninth off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to break open a close game in an 8-3 win in Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday.
The win gives the Nats a two games to one lead in the series. Game 4 of the best-of-five series is set for Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The bullpen was again the star, putting up four and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief of starter Gio Gonzalez, who lasted just four and a third innings after being staked to an early 4-1 lead.
A two-run Carlos Ruiz homer in the fifth chased Gonzalez, cutting the Washington lead to 4-3, and it would stay that way for what seemed like many, many hours in the slow-moving game.
The Nationals finally broke through in the ninth off Jansen, with Jayson Werth leading off the inning with a solo homer to left on the first pitch of the inning, adding two more on a two-run double off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman, with the icing on the cake coming on a Chris Heisey sac fly.
After a Corey Seager RBI double gave L.A. an early 1-0 lead in the first, Werth had an RBI double in the third to tie the game at 1-1. Bryce Harper followed with an RBI single, and Anthony Rendon homered to put Washington up, 4-1.
Kenta Maeda took the loss for Los Angeles, charged with four runs on five hits in three innings of work.
Sammy Solis got the win in relief, going an inning and two-thirds, giving up a hit, striking out one and walking one.
The Nats bullpen has thrown 12 and a third scoreless innings in the series.
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Chris Graham
