WASHINGTON -- Clayton Kershaw was hardly at his best.Nothing new when it comes to October.He allowed eight hits and three runs. He needed 101 pitches just to make it through five innings. His career postseason ERA even rose a bit, up to 4.65.Didnt matter a bit to the lefty. Only this did: He earned a rare playoff victory.Backed by early homers from rookie sensation Corey Seager and Justin Turner off Max Scherzer in a matchup of Cy Young Award winners that promised more than it delivered, Kershaw helped the Los Angeles Dodgers edge the Washington Nationals 4-3 Friday in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.It was a grind. A lot of guys on base all the time. Definitely wasnt easy, Kershaw said. As close as you can bend without breaking, I guess.His work done, Kershaw was able to relax in the dugout, chewing gum and blowing bubbles while watching relievers Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen combine to give up one hit over four scoreless innings. Jansen got his first five-out save since April.Whatever weve got to do to win, right? Those guys are up to the challenge, Seager said about LAs bullpen. And theyve been up to it all year.Game 2 in the best-of-five matchup is Saturday at Washington.Facing the NL East champs, Kershaws three runs might not sound like an exorbitant total, but an opponent scored that many only once in the leftys preceding 16 starts. And there was a stop-and-start feel to the evening, because of plenty of boo-inducing mound visits from catcher Yasmani Grandal.I wanted to be sure on the signs. We were trying to change `em up pretty often, said Kershaw, who improved to 3-6 in the playoffs , a far cry from his regular-season record of 126-60 with a 2.37 ERA and three Cy Young Awards. It was mainly that I had so many guys on second base.Certainly did.Kershaw left the bases loaded in the second, and stranded two runners in both the third and fifth -- striking out Danny Espinosa along the way each time.We had him on the ropes a couple times, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said, and, you know, the big hit just escaped us.There was also a baserunning blunder by NL MVP contender Daniel Murphy in the seventh inning.Murphy, who hadnt started a game since Sept. 17 because of a strained glute muscle, reached when Baez walked him, but then was thrown out trying to steal second. Baker said it was Murphys decision to run there and acknowledged being surprised by the attempt.Theres two choices on that, Murphy said. Either be safe or dont run.In all, Washington went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.That meant the Nationals repeatedly let Kershaw off the hook. He sat out more than two months with a bad back before returning to the NL West winners in September and hadnt thrown more than 91 pitches since coming back.So what if he struggled?It feels good to win, and it feels good to win in this situation, Kershaw said. If I had pitched seven shutout innings and we lost, its a different feeling. At this time of year, you kind of just throw the stats out the window and you just win the game.He was staked to a 4-0 lead thanks mainly to Seager and Turner, before slowly giving back most of that margin.Kershaw allowed only one stolen base during 149 innings in the regular season, then allowed two on a single pitch in the third, when Bryce Harper (who had doubled) and Jayson Werth (who had walked) moved up. That became big when Anthony Rendon ripped a single to left field on a slider that didnt really slide, bringing both runners home and getting Washington to 4-2.Trea Turners sacrifice fly in the fourth cut LAs lead to a run.Like Washingtons Turner, LAs Seager is a rookie who has not played like one all year long.On the first pitch he saw from Scherzer, Seager turned on a 97 mph fastball and hit it to the deepest part of Nationals Park, beyond the 402-foot sign in center field, for a 1-0 lead.Scherzer plunked the next batter, Justin Turner, on the left arm. For whatever reason, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner for Detroit -- and a 20-game winner whos a leading contender for the NL honor this year -- never truly settled in.The Dodgers made it 4-0 in the third on Chase Utleys RBI single, then Justin Turners two-run shot on a 77 mph curveball. The ball sailed over the head of Werth, who jumped in vain to try to make a grab, then slammed his glove against the left-field wall.Homers have been Scherzers biggest problem the past two seasons: He allowed 27 in 2015, and a major league-high 31 in 2016.I made some mistakes, and they cost me, Scherzer said. I take ownership of that, and Im accountable for that.MAKING HISTORYBaker and LAs Dave Roberts became the first pair of black managers to face off in a postseason series. During pregame introductions, they met near home plate for a long embrace.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen hours before Game 1 -- his first time on a mound since he hurt his right elbow a month ago. He was ruled out for the NLDS, but the Nationals hope he could return if the team advances. ... All-Star C Wilson Ramos, out for the season with a torn knee ligament, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.UP NEXTIn Game 2, RHP Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA) starts for the Nationals, taking the assignment that likely would have gone to Strasburg if he were healthy. LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 1.84 ERA in six starts after a trade from Oakland) will pitch for the Dodgers. He was let go from Washingtons Triple-A Syracuse affiliate last year. NMD XR1 Canada . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. NMD Cheap Canada . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/ . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Stan Smith Shoes Canada Sale . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. NMD_R1 Shoes Canada . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles enjoy playing at home, and theyre hoping for more success at Camden Yards when they take on the Boston Red Sox in the finale of their two-game series on Wednesday.Both teams come into the game deadlocked at 66-52, tied for second in the American League East, one game behind Toronto (68-52).The Orioles will play 24 of their final 44 games at home -- where they have a 39-18 record after Tuesdays 5-3 loss to Boston. Third baseman Manny Machado said the Orioles -- who just came off of a 10-game road trip to Chicago, Oakland and San Francisco -- are glad to be back home.Were just trying to take it day-by-day, Machado said. We have the greatest fans in the world. We feed off of that. That takes us to another level.Chris Tillman was supposed to start for Baltimore, but after Tuesdays game, manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles are going to push him back to at least Saturday due to some shoulder issues.A lot of things most starting pitchers go through, especially in August, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. But thats why I had pushed everybody back a day, (to) give everybody some time.Instead, rookie right-hander Dylan Bundy (6-3, 2.93) will make his seventh start. Hes been spectacular in five of his six starts, and the hard-hitting Red Sox could give him a test.David Price (10-8, 4.29) is set to start for the Red Sox. Price gave up three runs on 10 hits in a 9-4 victory over Arizona last Friday. That ended a stretch of five starts without a victory for the veteran left-hander.The Red Sox have just started a long 11-gamee road trip, but even manager John Farrell said Oriole Park is a good place to play.ddddddddddddThis is a great ballpark, Farrell said of Camden Yards. When the weather is warm, its a very good hitters ballpark.The Red Sox are hoping for some better luck with injuries Wednesday as two members of Tuesdays starting lineup were hurt.Third baseman Aaron Hill (right forearm tightness) was in the original starting lineup but Brock Holt replaced him before the game. Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez left after four no-hit innings -- plus two pitches in the fifth -- due to left hamstring tightness.Farrell said they think they caught Rodriguezs problems early, and if everything works out all right, the left-hander might not have to miss a start. But the skipper said theyll have a better idea about things on Wednesday.Boston also was again missing Hanley Ramirez, whos been on the bereavement list since Monday. Farrell said he will re-join the Red Sox on Thursday in Detroit.The Red Sox need to get used to the road games since theyll be playing 28 of their final 44 games on the road. Farrell said his team knows what the situation is in the tight three-team race in the American League East.We all are well aware of what is at stake, where we are in the standings and who is around us, Farrell said. We had guys step up in key moments (on Tuesday).Theyll be hoping for more of the same Wednesday versus one of the best home teams in baseball. ' ' '