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 the Dodgers 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 the Dodgers lead to a run.Like Washingtons Turner, L.A.s 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 L.A.s 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. Cheap Korey Cunningham Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Cheap Mason Cole Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.cardinalsjerseyscheap.com/ .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Cheap Josh Rosen Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Discount Cardinals Jersesys . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. GAME OF THE WEEKNo. 8 Oklahoma (8-2, 7-0 Big 12) at No. 10 West Virginia (8-1, 5-1). The first matchup of Top 10 teams in the league this season, and a game that could end the Big 12 title chase. If No. 13 Oklahoma State loses at TCU earlier in the day, coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners could be playing in prime time to clinch their 10th Big 12 championship . West Virginia is eliminated from contention with a loss. The Sooners have a 14-game conference winning streak, though their last three road games have been decided by 10 points or less. Since joining the Big 12 in 2012, the Mountaineers have beaten every conference team -- except Oklahoma.BEST MATCHUPMason Rudolph vs. Kenny Hill, two quarterbacks with different styles. Rudolph, a passing QB, leads No. 13 Oklahoma State (8-2, 6-1) against dual-threat Hill and the Horned Frogs (5-4, 3-3). Rudolph is second in the Big 12 with 338.7 total yards per game -- 338.4 yards per game passing (He has only 3 yards rushing this season). Hill is third in the Big 12 with 336 total yards per game -- 299 passing and 37 rushing -- and the Frogs could be looking for more designed runs for him. The Cowboys have a six-game winning streak since losing at Baylor to open conference play. TCU is coming off an open date after a 40-point win at Baylor.INSIDE THE NUMBERSBaylor has lost three games in a row for the first time since a four-game losing streak in 2012. The Bears (6-3, 3-3) play their home finale againsst Kansas State.dddddddddddd ... Texas Tech (4-6, 2-5), which has to win its last two games to get bowl eligible, has allowed at least 44 points in seven games this season. ... Gary Patterson marks his 200th game as TCUs coach, only Dutch Meyer has coached more games for the Horned Frogs (201). ... Iowa State has averaged 420 total yards per game the last seven games, a 102-yard increase over its first three games.LONG SHOTUnfortunately for Kansas (1-9, 0-7), it seems like the Jayhawks are always longshots. They have lost 19 consecutive Big 12 games and are more than three-TD underdogs at home against Texas and national rushing leader DOnta Foreman (179 yards per game), who has tied 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbells school record with 11 consecutive 100-yard games. Kansas is 110th nationally, allowing 226 yards rushing per game. The Longhorns (5-5, 3-4) get bowl eligible with a victory.IMPACT PERFORMERSKansas State defenders Elijah Lee and Jordan Willis. Willis, a senior defensive end, leads the league with nine sacks and second with 13 1/2 tackles for losses. Lee, a junior linebacker, is tied for second in the Big 12 with 8.6 tackles per game.---Compiled by AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Fort Worth, Texas.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '