Through the fifth inning of Sunday’s game in Washington D.C., a nervous energy had begun to creep into the city of Los Angeles. Down 2-0 to the Nats with no real offense to speak of over the previous 14 innings of the NLDS, it all changed with two outs in the top of the sixth inning.

So far in the National League Division Series there have been two starting pitchers to really give the Dodgers’ bats problems. Stephen Strasburg was great in Game 2, and Anibal Sanchez struck out nine batters through five innings in yesterday’s Game 3.

Maybe Washington yanked Sanchez too early, but the Dodgers won’t feel bad. They bludgeoned the next five relievers they faced to the tune of nine runs on ten hits. Patrick Corbin, one of the Nationals’ top free agent signings during the offseason, got the worst of it in the sixth inning; Corbin didn’t make it out of the inning, surrendering six runs to L.A., including 2-RBI doubles by Russell Martin and Kike Hernandez.

Justin Turner would add a 3-run bomb to left-center to cap the seven run inning, and Martin provided the exclamation point with a 2-run homer in the ninth. Martin had four RBIs, a playoff career night for the 14 year veteran.

The Dodgers now move to this afternoon’s Game 4 with a chance to clinch the series, at the least they’ve regained homefield advantage. L.A. faces a tough matchup against former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer. Scherzer came on in relief in Game 2 and pitched a perfect inning (3 strikeouts).

Los Angeles will send one of their fiercest postseason competitors during this three-year run, 39-year-old Rich Hill. However, manager Dave Roberts will be closely monitoring Hill’s stamina and it could turn in to a bullpen game very quickly given how little Hill has pitched in the second half of the season.

Today’s Gm. 4 Dodger lineup at Nationals:
Pederson RF
Muncy 1B
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Seager SS
Beaty LF
Lux 2B
Smith C
Hill P#NLDS | #LABleedsBlue pic.twitter.com/sNfXcGk4vN

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2019

Will Smith is back behind home plate after Martin’s big game. Smith’s been relatively quiet so far in the series, but don’t be surprised if the rookie standout has a big night.

First pitch is at 3:40, and be sure to listen to every inning of Game 4 live on KHTS FM 98.1.

KHTS Sports is your place for the 2019 Santa Clarita high school football season and your Santa Clarita Dodgers coverage. Find all the latest news and updates on your hometown schools here as they compete in the Foothill League, Heritage League, Western State Conference and GSAC.