As far as "Dodgers falling short in the postseason" narratives go, their NLDS Game 5 loss to the Nationals on Wednesday could not have checked many more boxes.
Often-criticized Clayton Kershaw was on the mound when Los Angeles' two-run lead disappeared. He has been an all-time great regular-season pitcher but has regularly struggled in the playoffs, a trend that continued with him allowing back-to-back home runs to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto to tie the game in the eighth inning.
Often-maligned manager Dave Roberts then curiously kept reliever Joe Kelly in the game with the bases loaded in the 10th inning. Kelly surrendered a go-ahead grand slam to Howie Kendrick that effectively ended the Dodgers' season.
MORE: Cards manager's postgame speech full of expletives
Non-LA fans around the world got a kick out of the Dodgers losing in the NLDS following consecutive World Series disappointments, particularly because of the manner in which it happened.
Here are a handful of the jokes made:
Had to do it pic.twitter.com/xTlO3is2Ce
— Josh (@GoldAndOrSmith) October 10, 2019
Rough night in LA. pic.twitter.com/NtagFzLwIU
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) October 10, 2019
When she says she wants to find a guy like you but you're a guy like you pic.twitter.com/Q5ImitHjnS
— Zito (@_Zeets) October 10, 2019
— The big chillin’ (@Kofie) October 10, 2019
… i mean … pic.twitter.com/OZi2u9RrSK
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) October 10, 2019
Someone tell the Dodgers it’s early October, not late October.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein_) October 10, 2019
clayton kershaw’s attempt to overcome the playoff narrative pic.twitter.com/p2jwTNIj27
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 10, 2019
"It's a new year! Maybe Clayton Kershaw can change the narrati-" pic.twitter.com/hDryd9USJb
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 10, 2019
Dodgers fans after that Howie Kendrick grand slam. pic.twitter.com/H4eOq8sVG1
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 10, 2019