*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*
Los Angeles leads 1-0
Joc Pederson hit a massive home run, Walker Buehler pitched 6 dominant innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rolled over the Washington Nationals 6-0 to take game one of the NLDS. The Dodgers capitalized on some Nationals errors and Buehler's dominance. Manager Dave Roberts said that ''Walker, time and time again, just knows how to temper, control his emotions and transfer that into the delivery, the execution of pitches."
The Dodgers took the lead early, when Max Muncy drew a bases loaded walk in the first inning to make it 1-0. In the 5th, Muncy was safe on a fielders choice that scored Cody Bellinger to make it 2-0. In the 7th, Muncy increased the lead with a two run single to right field. In the 8th, top prospect Gavin Lux ripped a pinch hit solo homer into the right center field stands to make it 5-0. Pederson followed that up with his massive blast to make it 6-0.
Patrick Corbin took the loss for Washington, going 6 innings and giving up two runs on 3 hits and 5 walks. He struck out 9 hitters. Tanner Rainey, Fernando Rodney, and Hunter Strickland finished for Washington. Manager Dave Martinez said that ''Oh, they're good. They're really good, that's why they have been in the postseason so many years in a row." Howie Kendrick committed two errors at first for the Nats, which didn't help their chances either. Corbin also had a particularly rough first inning, walking a few batters, including Muncy with the bases loaded.
Buehler didn't allow a run, and only gave up one hit and 3 walks in 6 dominating innings. He struck out 8 to earn his first playoff win. Adam Kolarek, Kenta Maeda, and Joe Kelly finished in relief of Buehler. The Dodgers noticed that Corbin was off in the first inning, with Muncy saying that ''It just didn't seem like he had his command, we did a really good job of not chasing balls out of the zone." Roberts said that ''That first inning was the game, that really set the tone." The Dodgers have won 8 straight games, including regular season play, and they snapped the Nationals 9 game winning streak.
The Nationals will look to upset the Dodgers at home for game two, with wild card game hero Stephen Strasburg getting the start for Washington. The Dodgers send lefty Clayton Kershaw to the hill, looking to take a 2-0 stranglehold before they travel to Washington.
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