The Washington Nationals took a 2-1 National League Division Series lead Monday after cruising to an 8-3 victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth both hit home runs to provide the pop for Washington. Ryan Zimmerman then iced the game in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run double of off super closer Kenley Jansen.
Neither starting pitcher featured their best stuff Monday, but Gio Gonzalez at least lasted more than four innings. Kenta Maeda was pulled by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after allowing four earned runs in three innings.
Washington now holds the advantage, but this one still feels like it's going all five games.
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Here are three takeaways from Washington's Game 3 win:
1. There's danger from top to bottom in Washington's lineup. When pundits rank the top lineups in baseball, the Nationals rarely find their way on the list. A lot of that has to do with their inconsistent tendencies, but there is talent up and down this lineup.
Bryce Harper is the obvious star. He's young, talented and appeals to the general baseball fan because of his free-swinging nature and charismatic, if not boisterous, attitude. Yet, guys like Rendon, Zimmerman, rookie Trea Turner, Daniel Murphy and Werth, who went 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored Monday, are just as capable at helping this team win.
If Washington's rotation clicks during the postseason, this could be a tough team to beat.
2. Postseason brings out the best and worst in baseball. Passion, joy, excitement and hard work are all on display from the players and fans as the season dwindles to its most meaningful games. This gives us some of the best and most memorable moments in sports, but it can also force the game to be played in a strained, choppy manner.
That's exactly what happened in Game 3. Neither starting pitcher lasted past 4 1/3 innings, which meant pitching changes, hits, timeouts and visits to the mound. It all added up to a 4 1/2-hour game that seemed like it may never end.
Playing slower and concentrating on the task at hand are understandable side effects of playing to win a World Series, but no one outside of Nationals and Dodgers fans wanted to watch a four-plus hour baseball game.
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3. Corey Seager is a rookie in name only. The Dodgers unfurled a gem when they landed Seager. He's a tremendous hitter with enough patience to hit the ball to all sides of the field, and he's proven to be clutch all season long.
After hitting a home run in each of his first two games this series, Seager responded with an RBI double in the first inning Monday. The 22-year-old batted .308 with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs during the regular season and impressed with his glove. Seager seems like a lock to win rookie of the year, but a casual fan would never guess this was his first full season.
Highlight
Anthony Rendon hits his first career postseason home run in his seventh postseason game:
It's the #postseason, might as well make it Tony Four Bags.
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2016
Watch on @MLBNetwork: https://t.co/lKhqgZP53k #NLDS pic.twitter.com/oldCyaJrmc
What's next
Game 4: Nationals (2-1) at Dodgers (1-2) Tuesday, 5 p.m. ET — The Nationals have yet to name a starter for this game, but it's reasonable to believe Max Scherzer will be considered despite struggling in Game 1. Los Angeles already knows 20-year-old star Julio Urias will take the mound. It will be interesting to see how long he lasts.