Rendon's big blast leads rally (Nats win 8-3, lead series 2-1)

LOS ANGELES - The Nationals made Kenta Maeda work in the top of the first but were unable to tally a run to begin Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

Jayson Werth singled, and Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon forced walks. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ryan Zimmerman struck out.

The Dodgers' Corey Seager gave his club the lead in his first at-bat for the third straight game on the series. Justin Turner walked against lefty Gio Gonzalez with one out in the bottom of the first.

Seager followed with an RBI double off the right-center field wall and the Dodgers led 1-0. He has a double, two homers and three RBIs in his first at-bats of three NLDS games.

Gonzalez was able to get Yasiel Puig looking and Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to first to end the inning.

After one inning, the Dodgers lead the Nationals 1-0.

Update: As mentioned in the lineups preview, Maeda struggles pitches 26 through 50. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Maeda has a 5.30 ERA the second time through the order. The Nats took advantage of that split in the top of the third.

In the third, the Nationals erupted for four runs, the most they ever have scored in their short postseason history in one frame. Trea Turner singled and Werth doubled to tie the game at 1-1. Harper singled to plate Werth and the Nats led 2-1.

Anthony Rendon then notched his first extra base hit in postseason history, a dramatic two-run homer into the left-center field bleachers to lift the Nationals to a 4-1 lead.

Maeda was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fourth. He ended up going three innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Update II: The Dodgers rallied in the fifth. With one out, Joc Pederson singled. Pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz blasted a two-run shot and suddenly the Nats' lead was 4-3. Gonzalez was replaced by Sammy Solis.

Solis got Howie Kendrick to ground out, but the left-hander walked Justin Turner. Seager flew out deep to center field to end the frame.

Gonzalez finished 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He tossed 83 pitches, 48 for strikes.

After five innings, the Nationals lead the Dodgers 4-3.

Update III: Sammy Solis was outstanding again. He pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout. He got the Nats out of a perilous situation in the fifth and managed to prevent a Dodgers run in the sixth. Solis has thrown four scoreless innings in the first three games of the series.

Update IV: Shawn Kelley worked 1 2/3 innings and struck out three, allowing no runs and no hits. The bullpen has been ridiculously good for the Nats in this series.

The Nationals sought after some insurance in the ninth and they found a ton.

Werth slammed a solo homer to leadoff the top of the ninth off of Kenley Jansen and the Nats lead 5-3. After a pair of walks, Ryan Zimmerman went off the right field wall, the ball misplayed by Josh Reddick, two runs score and its 7-3 Nationals. Jansen replaced by Ross Stripling.

Pinch-hitter Chris Heisey's line drive to left field sac fly scores Zimmerman and the Nats lead 8-3.

The pair of four run innings are postseason bests for the Nats. Previously they had scored three runs in an inning, most recently versus the Cardinals.

Update V: Mark Melancon tossed a scoreless ninth. The Nationals drop the Dodgers 8-3. They can win the NLDS for the first time in club history with a victory on Tuesday. The Nationals lead the series 2-1.