Earlier today, the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to finish the deciding game against the Washington Nationals to win Game 5 of the National League Division Series. It was a momentous event for two teams that slugged it out for over 272 minutes.
Both the Dodgers and the Nationals entered Game 5 with a tied record in the postseason but the former was coming from two consecutive wins that certainly its momentum.
Overall, it was a very exciting matchup but most of the game's highlights were packed in the seventh inning, which lasted for about 66 minutes alone.
"It was probably the craziest, if not the craziest game I've ever been a part of in my career," Max Scherzer of Washington said. "This is a tough one to be on the wrong side of."
As the game reached the seventh inning, pitcher Clayton Jershaw, who recorded 51 pitches and two one-out walk in during the ninth, stepped onto the field to strike our Wilmer Difo.
This was the defining moment that secured the Dodgers and Nationals' fate as it ended Game 5 with a record of 4-3 in favor of the Los Angeles franchise.
According to Kershew, despite the intensity of the game, he tried to brush of the pressure of pitching as he stepped onto the mound.
"The adrenaline rush was pretty good right there," he said. "At the end of the day, if we don't win that game, we're going home anyway, so what does it matter?"
"I just wanted to be available, and it ended up to the point where I could help out tonight," he added.
As noted by teammate Justin Turner, Kershaw was more than ready to throw the winning pitch at Game 5. He was even the one who approached manager Dave Roberts to enter the seventh inning.
"Nobody wants it more than him," Turner said. "His tireless work ethic and how much he competed. And just for him to go up and tell them, 'Hey, I can come in and close this thing out if you need me,' just says so much about the type of player he is."
"He's a winner," he added. "He's a champion."
