Howie Kendrick hits a go-ahead grand slam in extra innings of Game 5, a breakdown
What Happened
In the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 5 of the National League Division Series, the Washington Nationals trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by one run in a tightly contested playoff matchup at Dodger Stadium. Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon steps to the plate against Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, who is making his second inning of work in this high-pressure situation. The Dodgers' bullpen is ready, with closer Kenley Jansen and left-hander Víctor Arano warming up, but manager Dave Roberts elects to keep the struggling Kelly in the game. Kelly intentionally walks superstar Juan Soto to load the bases, bringing veteran Howie Kendrick to the plate for the Nationals. Kendrick, who has had a rough series defensively, is looking for redemption. On Kelly's second pitch, Kendrick unloads, launching a towering grand slam over the right field wall to give the Nationals a 7-3 lead. Kendrick emphatically celebrates as he rounds the bases, saying "Get off me!" to the first base coach. Kendrick's veteran teammates greet him at home plate with high-fives and hugs, including an enthusiastic Gerardo Parra who initially tries to interrupt the celebration. The Nationals dugout erupts in joy, as the go-ahead grand slam has blown the game wide open in the nation's capital's favor. Dodgers manager Roberts is visibly frustrated, questioning why he didn't turn to his reliable bullpen earlier instead of sticking with the struggling Kelly. Kendrick, meanwhile, is all smiles, laughing off the celebratory chaos surrounding him as the Nationals move one step closer to advancing in the playoffs.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentGame five Dodger Stadium Extra Innings
intense all around Joe Kelly in his
second inning of work
this one's brought to you by the sports
letter facing Rendon here Kelly hasn't
thrown multiple innings since August
24th so I'm not sure why you'd ask him
to do it on the biggest stage ever the
most high-pressure situation he's got
two on the bull pens ready choleric sout
they're Jansen's out there Col Eric has
been used just for one soda that came in
three times this series just to face
Juan Soto he got him out all three times
strike them out twice they don't do that
they just intentionally walked
Soto to load the bases and keep Kelly in
it doesn't make a lot of sense Howie
Kendrick's at the plate he had a rough
series a lot of defensive gaffes this
baserunning error which is unexplainable
and then later on another one so he's
looking for a little Redemption Joe
Kelly's looking to prove his worth and
Robert says I don't know frozen brain
just just kind of stuck second pitch
fastball how he blasts it home run Grand
Slam close game gets blown open just
like that I think he says get off me
which is an old-school thing he's he's
all the first base coach with a big old
fist bump
Howie Kendrick is two veteran to go with
the let's go he's old-school he's got
the get off me get some those old
slogans high-fives all around then
Gerardo Parra says no no I do hugs here
he's going crazy Hendricks has his
helmet ripped off now they're beating up
his head and he got a great double
high-five lined up here look at the eye
contact the hands but our artur pyar
says no high-fives we do hugs he messes
it up just ruins everything
Kendrick says get me away from Parra
they say get me away from the stadium
this blows Dave Robert says why wasn't I
allowed to use my bullpen I don't
understand why I couldn't use them and
Howie Kendrick is laughing
they kept Joe Kelly and for another
batter and he gave up a hit and then
they're like you know what let's go to
those other guys that are ready and like
this is their job this one was brought
to by the
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