Kershaw Pitches Win in Relief For Dodgers

By ESPN

A little past midnight in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, Clayton Kershaw emerged from the bullpen to pitch in relief for the first time in seven years.

Two outs later, the only save of his major league career in the books, Kershaw's arms were raised and teammates were rushing to celebrate with a guy whose postseason performances have never carried the luster of his regular-season success.

Coming in after closer Kenley Jansen entered in the seventh inning and threw a career-high 51 pitches but issued a pair of one-out walks in the ninth, Kershaw got Daniel Murphy to pop out, then struck out Wilmer Difo to end it.

That finished the Los Angeles Dodgers' dramatic 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals that decided their NLDS in the wee hours of Friday.

"The adrenaline rush was pretty good right there," said Kershaw, who approached Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in the seventh inning to offer to pitch if need be on the must-win occasion.

"At the at the end of the day, if we don't win that game, we're going home, anyway, so what does it matter?" Kershaw said. "I just wanted to be available, and it ended up to the point where I could help out tonight."

The Dodgers won the last two games of the best-of-five NLDS with Kershaw pitching in each and now head to the NL Championship Series to face the Chicago Cubs. That opens at Wrigley Field on Saturday night.

The Nationals, meanwhile, still have never won a postseason series, winning three NL East titles in the past five years but losing in the NLDS each time.

And while there's no way Kershaw will be available for Game 1 against Chicago, one thing's for sure: Whatever notion there might have been about the lefty's playoff problems -- he was 2-6 in the postseason until this series, with an ERA nearly twice what he has in the regular season -- is now a thing of the past.

"That (criticism) is ridiculous," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said, his dress shirt soaked with alcohol from the postgame festivities. "That's why I said to him, 'Dude, you're Mr. October.'"

Kershaw worked two days after throwing 110 pitches over 6 2/3 innings in Game 4, when he had the benefit of only three days' rest following his win in the opener against the Nationals.

League Championship Series

Friday, October 14

Toronto at Cleveland, 7:08 p.m.

ALCS --  Game 1

Saturday, October 15

Toronto at Cleveland, 3:08 p.m.

ALCS --  Game 2

L.A. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, 7:08 p.m.

NLCS -- Game 1

Sunday, October 16

L.A. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, 7:08 p.m.

NLCS -- Game 2

 Monday, October 17

Cleveland at Toronto, 7:08 p.m.

ALCS -- Game 3

Tuesday, October 18

Cleveland at Toronto, 3:08 p.m.

ALCS -- Game 4

Chicago Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, 7:08 p.m.

NLCS -- Game 3

Wednesday, October 19

Chicago Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, 7:08 p.m.

NLCS -- Game 4

Cleveland at Toronto, 3:08 p.m.

ALCS -- Game 5

Thursday, October 20

Chicago Cubs at LA. Dodgers, 7:08 p.m.

NLCS -- Game 5

Friday, October 21

Toronto at Cleveland, 7:08 p.m.

ALCS -- Game 6

Saturday, October 22

LA. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, TBA

NLCS -- Game 6

Toronto at Cleveland, TBA

ALCS -- Game 7

Sunday, October 23

L.A. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, TBA

NLCS -- Game 7