NLDS, LCS start times set through Oct. 21

Major League Baseball has announced the start times of this postseason's League Championship Series games through Oct. 21. The American League Championship Series will feature the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cleveland Indians, while the National League Championship Series will pit the Chicago Cubs against either the Washington Nationals or the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TBS will televise all ALCS games, while FS1 will broadcast all NLCS games. Sportsnet will handle English broadcasts in Canada, with RDS offering the ALCS in Canada in French. FS1 will televise Game 5 of the NL Division Series between the Dodgers and Nationals tonight at 8 ET.

All remaining postseason games will be available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider.

ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2016 MLB postseason games. The 2016 postseason schedule can be accessed at MLB.com/postseason or via the MLB.com At Bat mobile app.

THURSDAY, OCT. 13
NLDS
LAD @ WSH (Game 5): 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT, FS1, FOX Deportes

FRIDAY, OCT. 14
ALCS
TOR @ CLE (Game 1): 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Canada, English), RDS (Canada, French), CNN en Espanol

SATURDAY, OCT. 15
ALCS
TOR @ CLE (Game 2): 4:08 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Canada, English), RDS (Canada, French), CNN en Espanol

NLCS
TBD @ CHC (Game 1): 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes en Espanol

SUNDAY, OCT. 16
NLCS
TBD @ CHC (Game 2): 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes en Espanol

MONDAY, OCT. 17
ALCS
CLE @ TOR (Game 3): 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Canada, English), RDS (Canada, French), CNN en Espanol

TUESDAY, OCT. 18
ALCS
CLE @ TOR (Game 4): 4:08 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Canada, English), RDS (Canada, French), CNN en Espanol

NLCS
CHC @ TBD (Game 3): 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes en Espanol

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
ALCS
CLE @ TOR (Game 5, if necessary): 4:08 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Canada, English), RDS (Canada, French), CNN en Espanol

NLCS
CHC @ TBD (Game 4): 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes en Espanol

THURSDAY, OCT. 20
NLCS
CHC @ TBD (Game 5, if necessary): 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes en Espanol

FRIDAY, OCT. 21
ALCS
TOR @ CLE (Game 6, if necessary): 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Canada, English), RDS (Canada, French), CNN en Espanol

Padres fire president and CEO Mike Dee

San Diego Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler and managing partner Peter Seidler today announced the departure of Padres president and chief executive officer Mike Dee.

Named team president on July 17, 2013, Dee spent 10 years total with San Diego over two stays. During his tenure as CEO, the Padres hired current general manager A.J. Preller and manager Andy Green.

Dee previously worked for the Padres from 1995-2002, beginning as director of corporate development before being promoted to executive vice president of business affairs.

Utley lifts Dodgers to 6-5 win over Nats to force Game 5

via Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Clayton Kershaw was out of the game, his head down in the dugout, the Los Angeles bullpen faltering and the season slipping away.

Chase Utley plucked the Dodgers from the brink, singling home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the eighth inning.

Suddenly, Game 5 was on the horizon.

One more chance to pursue the club's first World Series appearance in 28 years.

"There is no quit in this team," closer Kenley Jansen said.

The Dodgers avoided elimination Tuesday with a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals that forced a deciding game in their NL playoff.

Jansen worked the ninth for a save, one day after giving up four late runs during Los Angeles' loss in Game 3.

"I got out there and focused and fought," he said.

The finale is Thursday in Washington, with 20-game winner Max Scherzer set to pitch for the Nationals.

"Man, this is going to be a heck of a ballgame," he said. "The effort from both sides over the first four games has been incredible. Great pitching, great hitting, defense, everything."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he will use left-hander Rich Hill and rookie Julio Urias, but did not announce which one will start. Hill is expected to get the ball first.

"If anyone gives up on this team, they haven't seen us play a whole lot this year," Roberts said, "and it starts with what Clayton did - short rest and leaving it all out there. Everyone fed off that."

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who turned to Kershaw on three days' rest to salvage their season.

The score was tied 5-all with two outs in the eighth when Andrew Toles got hit by a pitch from loser Blake Treinen. Ethier followed with a single to left and Utley singled to right, scoring Toles from second for a 6-5 lead.

Trailing 5-2 in the seventh, the Nats had runners on first and second against Kershaw with two outs. The crowd chanted Kershaw's name as he and Bryce Harper battled through eight pitches before Harper drew a walk.

"Man, that's what baseball is all about right there - a matter of will," Nats manager Dusty Baker said. "Kershaw was on empty. We knew it. They knew it. Everybody knew it."

Harper's walk loaded the bases and chased Kershaw, who walked off with his head down. He sat alone in the dugout with his head resting on his right hand.

"Kershaw was outstanding," Baker said. "That's one of the best performances I've seen, especially on three days' rest."

But the Dodgers' bullpen nearly gave the game away.

Pedro Baez came in and hit Jayson Werth with his only pitch, forcing in a run to make it 5-3. Baez got booed off the field.

Daniel Murphy's single off Luis Avilan dropped between Toles and Joc Pederson in left-center field, scoring two runs to tie it at 5. Avilan also heard boos.

Joe Blanton, who earned the win, retired Anthony Rendon on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

"Our bullpen has been unbelievable," Kershaw said. "Joe did what Joe's been doing all season. He's been through a lot in his career but he came in and shut them down."

After failing to close out the Dodgers on the road, Washington gets one more chance to win a playoff series for the first time since the franchise relocated from Montreal. NL East champions in three of the past five years, the Nationals were unable to advance during their two previous trips to the postseason.

"That's why we fought so hard for the home-field advantage," Baker said. "This year, it's coming to fruition."

Desperate to avoid another early playoff exit, the Dodgers went with Kershaw, their three-time Cy Young Award winner who won Game 1 last Friday despite going just five innings and allowing three runs.

This time, he was charged with five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 - equaling his second-best postseason total - and walked two.

The left-hander was limited to 149 innings while compiling a 1.69 ERA during the regular season. He missed 2 1/2 months with a mildly herniated disk in his back.

Kershaw opened the game by giving up a leadoff single and a walk before Murphy's RBI single.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on Gonzalez's two-run shot that scored Justin Turner, who was hit by a pitch from Joe Ross.

Werth's RBI single tied it 2-all in the third.

Los Angeles again answered in the bottom of the inning, with Kershaw getting the rally going with a double to left field. He slid into second and clenched his fists in a rare show of emotion.

Kershaw scored on Turner's single with two outs. Pederson got hit by a pitch from Ross with the bases loaded, forcing in Turner

Ross made his postseason debut for the Nationals, giving up four runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings, equaling the shortest playoff start in the history of the Montreal-Washington franchise. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked two. He hasn't pitched more than four innings since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 18.

LOOK OUT!

Five players were hit by pitches, including four Dodgers, which set a single-game franchise playoff record. Of the quartet, two ended up scoring. Werth was the lone Nationals player to get hit.

There have been 11 hit batters in the series, a postseason record.

"No one on either side is trying to hit anybody with everything on the line right now," Scherzer said. "That's just baseball being played at its highest."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg experienced discomfort in his right elbow during a bullpen session Monday at Dodger Stadium. He threw 30 or 31 pitches instead of the scheduled 35. Strasburg has been out since tearing the pronator tendon in his elbow on Sept. 7.

Baker said Strasburg was throwing the ball "very good" and he's not concerned about the pitcher's progress. Strasburg has said he would try to return this season if the Nationals advance to the NLCS.

CAN'T CLOSE 'EM OUT

Baker has lost eight consecutive postseason games when his team would have advanced with a victory. That's the longest such streak in major league history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

ELIMINATION GAMES

The Dodgers improved to 12-15 in postseason elimination games since moving to Los Angeles.

Cubs rally for 4 runs in 9th, beat Giants 6-5 to win NLDS

via Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Kris Bryant tossed his glove high in the air, Jake Arrieta jumped over the dugout railing and the rest of the Chicago Cubs rushed to join the celebration.

Pure revelry and a sigh of relief, all at once.

World Series favorites since opening day, the Cubs took another step in their championship chase Tuesday night by rallying for four runs in the ninth inning of Game 4 to beat San Francisco 6-5 and win their NL Division Series.

"You could see it coming. You could see little signs. We've done it before and the guys, we don't quit," Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler said. "It's a little more special doing it here. They for sure were thinking that they won it. But we play 27 outs and we don't give up until we win."

Javier Baez's tiebreaking single capped the comeback against a beleaguered bullpen that sabotaged the Giants one last time.

The team with the best record in the majors this year will open the NL Championship Series at Wrigley Field on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals. That matchup is tied 2-all heading into the deciding Game 5 on Thursday.

"I've seen it so many times from this group. It's a big part of our philosophy," manager Joe Maddon said.

Seeking their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs will get a few days of rest before opening the NLCS. Chicago was swept by the New York Mets in a four-game NLCS last year.

Held to two hits over eight innings by Matt Moore, the Cubs trailed 5-2 heading to the ninth.

Now, they're headed back to their second consecutive NLCS after snapping San Francisco's 10-game winning streak when facing postseason elimination.

Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras tied it with a two-run single with none out. Baez singled in the go-ahead run two batters later, and the Cubs capitalized on Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford's second costly error and more untimely blunders by the Giants' once-reliable relief staff.

One day after getting tagged in the eighth inning, Aroldis Chapman closed this one out by striking out the side in order. When he set down Brandon Belt to end it, Chapman's teammates rushed to the mound to hug him and begin their celebration.

After finishing off the resilient Giants, Maddon should have his rotation all lined up because lefty Jon Lester wasn't needed to pitch a potential Game 5 in the Division Series.

Maddon has his confident, power-hitting Cubs on quite an October roll. They already beat All-Star Johnny Cueto and ex-Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija, then waited until Moore's stellar outing was done to pounce.

Downright unflappable for years in these pressure-packed scenarios, the Giants had won 10 straight games when facing postseason elimination. The World Series champions in 2010, '12 and '14, their every-other-year title chance is over in '16 with the club's first postseason series defeat in the last 12.

"We don't think we're going to win the World Series every even year. I mean, it took 50-something years to get one here," quipped Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose bullpen management was scrutinized throughout a disappointing second half.

The orange towel-waving sellout crowd of 43,166, perhaps spoiled this decade by the every-other-year title success, had been counting on a few more games by the bay this October.

Moore, acquired from Tampa Bay at the Aug. 1 trade deadline for games of this magnitude, struck out 10 as his former Rays manager - Maddon - watched from the other dugout.

Long after Cubs starter John Lackey's night was done, Hector Rondon pitched the eighth for the win.

WHAT CURSE?

Lester doesn't buy all the superstition surrounding Chicago's championship drought.

"Nobody really cares in there about a curse or a goat or anything else," he said. "If we make a mistake, we're not going to blame it on a curse or anything else like that. We're going to blame it on ourselves and be accountable for it and move on to the next play or the next moment. ... We've got too many young guys in there that don't even know what that stuff is, you know what I mean? So, it's almost better to play naive and just go out and worry about us, worry about the Cubs and not anything else in the past or, like I said, any animals."

POWER PITCHERS

Two pitchers homered for the Cubs in the series: Arrieta on Monday and reliever Travis Wood in Game 2. The 1924 New York Giants were the only other team to have two pitchers go deep in a postseason series, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

"That's pretty incredible, isn't it?" Maddon said.

GIANTS INJURIES

Left fielder Angel Pagan missed his second straight start with back spasms, and third baseman Eduardo Nunez's strained right hamstring is still slow to heal, leaving the Giants to contemplate replacing one on the roster. But no move was made before the game.

CRAWFORD'S MISCUES

The shortstop was the first Giants player to commit two errors in a postseason game since Don Mueller on Sept. 29, 1954, in Game 1 of the World Series.

Braves name Brian Snitker as manager, announce 2017 Major League staff

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves today named Brian Snitker as the club's manager for 2017, with a club option for 2018. Atlanta also named its coaching staff for next season, exercising 2017 contract options on bench coach Terry Pendleton, first base coach Eddie Perez, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and assistant hitting coach Jose Castro. Bullpen coach Marty Reed will return for 2017, while Chuck Hernandez has been named as the pitching coach and Ron Washington has been named the third base coach. Former third base coach Bo Porter will become a Special Assistant to the General Manager.

Snitker, who turns 61 on October 17, was named the Braves' interim manager on May 17 and led Atlanta to a 59-65 record, including a 37-35 mark after the All-Star break and a 20-10 record in the last 30 games. The 2017 season will mark Snitker's 41st as a member of the Braves organization.

"Brian earned this opportunity through his dedication to the Braves and to our players," said Braves general manager John Coppolella. "We are excited for the energy and momentum he will bring into SunTrust Park next season."

Snitker joined the organization as a player in 1977 and has served in a variety of roles ever since. He opened the 2016 campaign as the manager at Triple-A Gwinnett, his 20th season as a minor-league skipper (all with the Braves). Snitker has managed at Triple-A Gwinnett (2014-16) and Richmond (2006), Double-A Mississippi (2005) and Greenville (2002-04), High-A Myrtle Beach (1999-2001), Single-A Macon (1992, 1997-98), Durham (1987 and 1983-84), Sumter (1986) and Anderson (1982) and Rookie Level Danville (1996).

In his 20 seasons as a minor league manager, he compiled an overall record of 1,301-1,309 (.498). Five of his clubs advanced to postseason play, and he won two league championships (back-to-back titles with Myrtle Beach in 1999-2000). He won two league Manager of the Year Awards, both in the Carolina League in 1999 and 2000. 

Snitker spent seven seasons as the Major League club's third base coach, from 2007 to 2013. He also had two stints with the Major League staff as the bullpen coach in 1985 and from 1988 to 1990. He served as a coach in the Atlanta farm system, working with Danville in 1993 and 1994 and Durham in 1995. 

He began his coaching career as a roving instructor for the Braves in 1981 and took his first managerial job in 1982 with Anderson of the South Atlantic League. The former catcher played four seasons (1977-80) in the minors before retiring at the conclusion of the 1980 season. Born in Decatur, Ill., Snitker played college baseball at the University of New Orleans.

Hernandez, 55, just completed his first season in the Braves organization as the minor league pitching coordinator. It marked his 31st season in a coaching capacity. He joined the organization after spending the previous three seasons (2013-15) as the Major League pitching coach with the Miami Marlins, where he guided the staff to its two best single-season ERA finishes in franchise history in 2013 (3.71) and 2014 (3.78).

"Chuck brings a tremendous amount of experience to this role," said Copplolella. "He spent the 2016 season working closely with many of our young, talented pitchers who will be such an important part of our future."

Hernandez returned to the Major League coaching ranks in 2013 after spending two seasons (2011-12) as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida. He served as pitching coach for the GCL Phillies in the 2010 season and helped guide the club to a 3.44 team ERA and a GCL Championship. He spent the 2009 campaign as bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians under then-skipper Eric Wedge.

From 2006-08, Hernandez served as pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers, a role that saw him handle a staff that included AL Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander in 2006. In his first season with the Tigers in 2006, Hernandez helped the pitching staff compile a 3.84 ERA as the club won the AL pennant before losing in the World Series to St. Louis, four games-to-one.

He was on the staff of the Tampa Bay Rays for nine seasons, holding the position of Major League pitching coach in 2004 and 2005, and serving as a coach in the Rays' minor league system from 1997 to 2003.

Hernandez began his minor league coaching career in 1985 with the Gulf Coast White Sox and then spent 11 seasons (1986-96) as a Major and Minor League coach with the California Angels, serving time with Single-A Palm Springs (1986), Double-A Midland (1987), and Triple-A Edmonton (1988-90). He served as a roving instructor in 1991 and joined the Major League staff in 1992, remaining with the club through 1996. Hernandez was first named as a Major League pitching coach at the age of 31.

Hernandez was drafted by the Oakland A's in the 28th round of the 1978 June free agent draft but did not sign. The following season, he was selected in the first round (25th overall) by the New York Yankees out of Hillsborough Community College (Fla.). His playing career ended in 1983 after five seasons.

Washington, 64, spent the last two seasons on the coaching staff of the Oakland Athletics after managing the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014. He joined the Athletics on May 21, 2015 and became the third base coach in August of that same season.

"Ron's background and success as a Major League manager will be an asset to everyone on the club," Coppolella said. "His tireless work ethic, up-beat attitude and tremendously high baseball IQ will benefit our players and our staff."

Washington led the Rangers to a pair of American League pennants in 2010 and 2011 after being hired on November 6, 2006. The Rangers finished first or second in the AL West for six consecutive seasons under Washington from 2008 to 2013, while also capturing the AL Wild Card in 2012. The team won 90 games in four straight seasons, including 96 in 2011. Washington compiled a 664-611 (.521) career record over eight seasons with the club, becoming the winningest manager in Rangers and Senators history. He resigned on September 5, 2014.

Washington began his MLB coaching career in 1996, serving as Oakland's first base coach. He became the third base coach the following season and remained there until leaving to manage Texas in 2006. He worked closely with the A's infielders, and Oakland led the league in fielding percentage in both 2004 and 2005, while finishing second in 2006.

The former infielder spent all or parts of 10 seasons in the major leagues with Los Angeles (NL), Minnesota, Baltimore, Cleveland and Houston, compiling a .261 (414-for-564) career average in 564 games. He made his MLB debut in 1977 with Los Angeles, appearing in 10 games and hitting .368 (7-for-19). He returned to the big leagues in 1981 with Minnesota and played in 452 games over six seasons with the Twins. He joined the Orioles for 26 games in 1987 and Cleveland for 69 games in 1988. After appearing in seven games for Houston in 1989, Washington finished his playing career in 1990 for Texas' Triple-A club in Oklahoma City.

Washington began his professional coaching career in 1991 with the Mets' Triple-A club, the Tidewater Tides. He got his first managerial job in 1993, leading New York's Single-A Columbia team in the South Atlantic League for two seasons. In 1995, he returned to Triple-A as a coach with the Mets' team at Norfolk.

A native of New Orleans, Washington attended Manatee Junior College before signing with the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent in 1970.

Coppolella also made the following statement regarding Bo Porter's transition: "As a former player, coach and manager, Bo will add a unique perspective to our baseball operations staff. He has a bright future and this new experience will make him even more well-rounded."

The 2017 season will mark the 16th campaign for bench coach Terry Pendleton, the 11th for first base coach Eddie Perez, the third for hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and assistant hitting coach Jose Castro, both of whom joined the Braves staff in 2015, and the second for bullpen coach Marty Reed, who joined the staff with Snitker in May 2016.

- Atlanta Braves

Indians top Ortiz, Red Sox 4-3, complete sweep, reach ALCS

BOSTON (AP) -- The ball settled into the right fielder's glove, the Cleveland Indians poured onto the diamond and the Fenway fans fell silent.

Then, slowly from the crowd rose a chant of "Pa-pi!"

Cleveland swept the Red Sox out of the postseason and sent David Ortiz into retirement on Monday night with a 4-3 victory that completed a three-game AL Division Series sweep. But even as the Indians frolicked on the field in their celebratory hats and T-shirts, Boston fans weren't ready to let their beloved Big Papi go.

"I'm glad he didn't get a hit to beat us," manager Terry Francona said after leading the Indians to just the second postseason sweep in franchise history. "I thought it was an honor to be on the field, competing against him in his last game, because he's truly one of the best. You could tell the way people were hanging around yelling his name and everything. He deserves every bit of that."

Coco Crisp hit a two-run homer , closer Cody Allen got four outs and the Indians advanced the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2007. That year, they took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series against Boston before losing three in a row.

Cleveland also blew a 2-0 lead against Boston in the best-of-five round in 1999.

But this year there would be no fold.

Perhaps inspired by the Cavaliers' NBA title - the city's first pro sports championship since 1964 - the Indians shut down Ortiz and the most prolific offense in the league. Rookie Tyler Naquin delivered a two-run single and Josh Tomlin pitched five strong innings for the Indians, who will open the ALCS at home against Toronto on Friday.

Cleveland went 4-3 this year against the wild-card Blue Jays, who swept AL West champion Texas to reach the ALCS for the second straight year.

"Nobody in this clubhouse doubts what we're what capable of," reliever Andrew Miller said as music blared and corks popped in the visitors' clubhouse. "I think we saw in our games in Cleveland how much support we have. It's a special place to be. I think we have bigger things ahead of us, but it's not going to be any easier."

To advance, the Indians had to shut down the most prolific offense in the major leagues and weather the emotional farewell to Ortiz . The Red Sox designated hitter went 1 for 9 in the series, collecting a sacrifice fly in Game 3 before walking on four pitches in his final plate appearance .

Ortiz was lifted for a pinch runner in the eighth and left to a standing ovation.

But that wasn't enough for the crowd of 39,530 - the largest at Fenway since at least World War II. Chanting "We're not leaving!" and "Thank you, Pa-pi!" for more than 10 minutes while the Indians celebrated their victory, the crowd finally drew the beloved slugger back onto the field.

Wearing a red warmup and a scowl on his face, Ortiz lumbered out to the mound and tipped his cap in all directions, tapping his heart. Only when the camera zoomed in on him did it become apparent that the frown was not regret over an early postseason exit: Big Papi was crying.

"Tonight when I walked to the mound, I realized that it was over. It was pretty much probably the last time as a player to walk in front of a crowd," Ortiz told reporters afterward. "And the emotion came back out again."

After two minutes, Ortiz retired to the dugout and retired for good, ending to a career that brought three World Series titles to Boston and transformed the once-futile franchise into winners.

"I'm happy, not just for me, not just how my career went down, but for the organization, the step that we took, from going from last place to win the division this year," he told reporters. "Even if things didn't end up the way we were looking for ... it's like going from bad to good, from day to night."

Making it their goal to send their beloved Big Papi out as a winner, the Red Sox managed to win the AL East - the second time in four seasons they went from worst to first.

Boston raised fans' hopes with an 11-game winning streak in September but then lost eight of its last nine games, including the playoffs. After winning the first two games in the best-of-five AL Division Series, and then waiting an extra day because of Sunday's rainout, the Indians it took a 2-0 lead off Clay Buchholz in the fourth inning on Naquin's single.

Tomlin gave up Andrew Benintendi's Green Monster-scraping RBI double in the fifth, which gave some life to the Fenway crowd.

But with one run in, one out, one on and the fans taunting the Indians starter - "Tom-lin! Tom-lin!" - he struck out Sandy Leon on a pitch in the dirt and then Jackie Bradley Jr. grounded out to first. In the sixth, Crisp hit a two-run homer over the left-field wall to make it 4-1.

Buchholz allowed two runs and six hits in four innings, joining David Price and Rick Porcello as postseason losers.

Tomlin allowed two runs on four in five-plus innings. Miller pitched two innings , Bryan Shaw got two outs and Allen came on to face Ortiz with two out and a man on first in the eighth.

After walking on four pitches , Ortiz stood on first and waved his arms at the mostly dormant crowd. The fans rose to cheer for him and stayed there as Hanley Ramirez singled to make it 4-3.

Now representing the tying run at second, Ortiz was lifted for pinch-runner Marco Hernandez, leaving the field to a raucous cheer. But even after coming out of the game, his work wasn't done: With one foot on the top step of the dugout, he continued to cheer the team on.

Xander Bogaerts hit a hard line drive to second and Ortiz jumped onto the dirt, only to turn around and walk dejectedly back into the dugout when it was caught for the last out.

In the ninth, Jackie Bradley Jr. singled with two out and Dustin Pedroia drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Travis Shaw worked the count full before popping up to end it.

"I was cheering so bad," Ortiz said. "Once I got out of the game I was screaming at my team to put me back in it. Make me wear this uniform one more day. Because I wasn't ready to be over with the playoff."

Nationals beat Dodgers 8-3 to take 2-1 lead in NLDS

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jayson Werth always wanted to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium when he played two seasons in the venerable ballpark. His latest attempt came close with a 450-foot blast into the upper reaches of the left-field pavilion.

Werth's homer helped break open a one-run game in the ninth inning, moving the Washington Nationals within one victory of taking a postseason series for the first time with an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five NL playoff.

Heck, he even tied Babe Ruth with his 15th career postseason homer, good for 11th all-time.

"Ever since Dusty (Baker) moved me into the two-hole, I just felt like my job is to get on base for the animals behind me," said Werth, whose three hits tied a postseason career high.

Four relievers combined for 4 2/3 shutout innings, putting the Nationals in position to wrap up the NL Division Series on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

"They work quick and they're not afraid to go after anybody," said third baseman Anthony Rendon, who hit a two-run homer in a four-run third that chased Kenta Maeda.

Werth added, "It gives us confidence. I feel like the bullpen is going to hold up and that might not have been the case or the feeling in years past."

NL East champions for the third time in five years, the Nats were unable to advance during their two previous trips to the postseason. They lost in the Division Series to St. Louis in 2012 and San Francisco in 2014.

"I'm hoping this is our year," Werth said. "We're battle-tested, we're playoff-tested, and we've got a good group of guys. We've been playing together a long time now, so I feel like this is our opportunity."

Now 37 and with his 2008 World Series championship in Philadelphia long behind him, Werth senses time encroaching on him.

"Obviously, I can't play this game forever," he said. "So I feel like this is our chance and I also feel like maybe this is my last chance to do it."

The franchise has won one playoff series - the Montreal Expos beat Philadelphia following the strike-shortened 1981 season before losing to the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

The team moved from Montreal to Washington before the 2005 season.

Playing 23 hours after the Nationals tied the series at home in a rain-postponed Game 2, the Dodgers again struggled against left-handed pitching, a problem throughout the season when they had a major league-worst .213 average against lefties.

Four Washington lefty relievers stymied the Dodgers in the first two games. Facing lefty starter Gio Gonzalez in Game 3, they got three runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The only Dodgers hitter with proven success against Gonzalez was catcher Carlos Ruiz, and he came through with a two-run, pinch-hit homer in the fifth that cut their deficit to 4-3.

"I made one bad pitch, but the bullpen was incredible," Gonzalez said. "It's tough to go on the road and win in the playoffs. I went after them but I wish I had that one pitch back."

After that, the Dodgers mustered just a pair of singles off a Nats' bullpen that included lefties Sammy Solis and Oliver Perez, and didn't advance a runner past first base. Solis wound up with the win.

Now, the four-time defending NL West champions are facing elimination.

"We're not afraid of this," rookie manager Dave Roberts said. "There's no quit in our guys. We'll be ready tomorrow to win a baseball game, I can promise you that."

It was still 4-3 when Werth homered on a 1-0 pitch from All-Star closer Kenley Jansen leading off the ninth.

Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run double that bounced off right fielder Josh Reddick's glove at the wall - the hit scored Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper, who both walked.

Jansen, the team's all-time saves leader, was yanked. Los Angeles used all seven of its relievers in the game.

Maeda gave up four runs and five hits in three innings. The Japanese right-hander who won a team-leading 16 games is one of seven rookies on the Dodgers' NLDS roster.

"Kenta was missing and getting behind," Roberts said. "His fastball leaked back behind the plate and they made him pay. It was a good game until the ninth. That's baseball."

Maeda retired the side in the second, striking out two, before wilting in the third. He opened the inning by giving up four hits in five batters.

Werth's RBI double in the right-field corner tied the game 1-all. Harper hit an RBI single and Rendon followed with his two-run shot to the left-field pavilion for a 4-1 lead.

Dodgers rookie Corey Seager continued his first-inning success in the series, hitting an RBI double off the wall for a 1-0 lead after homering in the first inning of Games 1 and 2.

HIT 'EM HERE

Nationals SS Danny Espinosa got hit by a pitch from Maeda in the third inning, the third time he's been hit, which is the most in NLDS history. He trails Shane Victorino, who was hit four times in the 2013 ALDS against Boston for most in a division series in major league history.

UP NEXT

Dodgers rookie Julio Urias (5-2, 3.39 ERA) is scheduled to start Game 4, but the Dodgers could bring back Game 1 winner Clayton Kershaw on short rest with their season on the line. Urias made two starts against the Nationals this season. He allowed two runs and six hits in five innings of a no-decision at home on June 22. The left-hander allowed one run in four innings on July 21 at Washington. The Dodgers won both games.

The Nationals have yet to announce their starter. It's possible RHP Joe Ross would start Game 4 and Game 1 loser Max Scherzer would take the mound if Game 5 is necessary.

The game will start at 5:05 p.m. EDT. The teams had to wait until San Francisco's 13-inning win over the Cubs ended just before 3 a.m. EDT to find out when first pitch would be - Los Angeles and Washington would have begun at 8:08 p.m. EDT if Chicago had won.