The Washington National bullpen was near-perfect again on Sunday, keying a 5-2 come-from-behind win over the L.A. Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS.
The win evens the series at a game apiece. Game 3 is on the Left Coast on Monday at 4 p.m. EST, since MLB respects its TV schedule more than it does the teams playing the games, and the value of cross-country flights.
A Jose Lobaton three-run homer in the fourth put the Nats on top, 3-2, but starter Tanner Roark wouldn’t make it out of the fifth, leaving after four and a third, giving up two runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out one.
He was far from sharp, but he and his bullpen mates were at their best in clutch situations. The Dodgers loaded the bases three times in the first five innings, but batted 0-for-5 in those situations, with a pair of strikeouts and a ground-ball double play.
Washington added insurance on a pair of RBI singles by Daniel Murphy, who had three hits on the day, in the fifth and seventh.
The Nationals bullpen didn’t allow a hit until closer Mark Melancon surrendered a one-out single in the ninth to Howie Kendrick. The pen has put up seven and two-thirds scoreless innings in the series through two games.
Rich Hill took the loss for L.A., giving up four runs on six hits in four and a third innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Chris Seager homered for the second time in the series for the Dodgers.
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Chris Graham
