MLB.com's Mark DeRosa Breaks Down Dodgers' NLDS Win With Mike Francesa
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mark DeRosa of MLB.com joined Mark Francesa Friday evening to dissect the Los Angeles Dodgers' National League Division Series victory over the Washington Nationals.
Washington had been leading 1-0 in the sixth inning, when Jayson Werth walked and Ryan Zimmerman smacked a two-out double to left.
But third-base coach Bob Henley — whose propensity for waving runners home led to a popular T-shirt among Nationals players that says, "Send 'em short, send 'em tall, send 'em one, send 'em all" — sent Werth and saw him get thrown out easily on shortstop Corey Seager's relay.
Werth's inning-ending, overzealous bid to score was followed immediately by Joc Pederson's homer on Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer's first — and, it turned out, only — pitch of the seventh. Pederson connected with a 96 mph slider, sending it to the opposite field and over Werth's head in left.
That began a rally that included a pinch-hit RBI single by 37-year-old pinch hitter Carlos Ruiz, helping LA go up 4-1.
Then came a homer by the Nationals' Chris Heisey, and then regular Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen walked Bryce Harper and Werth with one out in the ninth.
Finally, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sent in pitcher Clayton Kershaw for the save.
DeRosa weighed in on Henley's questionable decision that in the sixth.
"We've seen multiple managerial decisions that are questionable throughout the course of the division series leading up until tonight, and then he got caught up in the moment. That's all I can say," DeRosa said. "I know people want to put some of the blame on Jayson Werth, because he doesn't do a bunch of media requests, and they're looking for ways to stick him. His job is to pick up the third base coach right there."
To listen to the full interview, click on the audio player below.