LOS ANGELES — With a short swing by Chase Utley grounding the ball past a diving Daniel Murphy, the rocking emotions of a wild Game 4 of this National League division series on Tuesday reached their climax.
First, fans watched in awe as Clayton Kershaw, on three days’ rest, provided a herculean effort in an elimination game for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then they grew tense as Kershaw lost a battle with Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper as the game hung in the balance. That feeling was replaced by disappointment, if not downright anguish, as the Dodgers’ bullpen quickly lost the lead and Kershaw buried his head in his hands in the dugout.