LOS ANGELES -- When Carlos Ruiz cracked the Dodgers first postseason pinch-hit homer in Los Angeles since a guy named Kirk Gibson did it a generation ago, the hallowed stadium shook with the possibilities.In that moment, Dodgers fans figured their team was ready to end the October doldrums currently bedeviling a franchise that has won four straight NL West titles, but just one playoff series.Instead, the Dodgers never scored again in their 8-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday, dropping them into a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-five Division Series.Reliable starter Kenta Maeda flopped in his rookie seasons biggest moment, and vaunted closer Kenley Jansen was tagged for four more runs. Aside from Ruizs two-run shot, the Dodgers couldnt slug with the Nationals potent lineup. Los Angeles lost for the 12th time in 18 playoff games since beating Atlanta in the 2013 NLDS.Starting with Game 4 on Tuesday at Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers will need back-to-back wins on both sides of the continent to avoid a fourth straight postseason disappointment.Weve missed the big hit for the last two games, but it happens, said rookie shortstop Corey Seager, who hit an RBI double in the first inning. Weve got to move on and find that big hit.Nobody managed two hits for the Dodgers, who are on the brink of losing their third consecutive division series and their fourth straight playoff series. They havent been to the World Series since 1988, when Gibson hit his iconic homer off Oaklands Dennis Eckersley to propel Los Angeles toward its most recent championship.The Nationals havent won a playoff series since they were the 1981 Montreal Expos, but they might have found an opponent with even more deep-seated postseason problems.Were not afraid of this, first-year Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Its been a long season. Its been a lot of highs and lows. But I know that theres no quit in our guys.The Dodgers never recovered after Washington chased Maeda with four hits and four runs in the third inning. Ruizs homer trimmed the Dodgers deficit to 4-3 in the fifth, but the Nationals bullpen continued its utter mastery over Los Angeles with 4 2/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball.The collapse was psychologically capped when Jansen entered a one-run game and gave up four more, retiring just one of his five batters in the ninth. Jansen yielded Jayson Werths massive homer and got chased when Josh Reddick botched Ryan Zimmermans catchable fly to right, scoring two more runs.We cant lose another one, so weve just got to compete, Jansen said in a subdued clubhouse. We still have a shot to win two, and why not?MAEDA MISSESMaeda was the unexpected stalwart this season in the Dodgers patchwork rotation, which lost Clayton Kershaw to injuries and Zack Greinke to Arizonas $206.5 million largesse.Maeda led Los Angeles with 16 victories, 175 2/3 innings, 179 strikeouts and a career-high 32 starts while the Dodgers gave extra rest to the 28-year-old rookie to get close to his usual weeklong gaps between starts.He was the only starter to remain in the injury-plagued rotation all season, but perhaps the longest and most draining year of his baseball career finally caught up to him: Maeda needed 28 pitches just to escape the first inning on a brilliantly sunny afternoon, fanning Zimmerman with the bases loaded to end it.His real trouble came in the third when Trea Turner led off with a single and scored on Jayson Werths double. Bryce Harper delivered a one-out RBI single, and Rendon brought him home with his first career postseason homer.Roberts pulled Maeda for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the third.I was very regretful that it didnt turn out to be a good outing, Maeda said. I understand it was a very big situation. I went in there as a must-win situation. I wasnt nervous at all, but I just didnt have my day.LEFTY RIGHTSRoberts attempted to counteract the Dodgers struggles against left-handed pitching by inserting Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson and Charlie Culberson, but the trio went 1 for 10 with Pedersons fifth-inning single before Ruizs homer.HOME COOKEDThe Dodgers won 53 home games this season, tied for the second-most in the majors. Theyve lost four of their six home playoff games over the past three division series, however.UP NEXTThe teams left the park not knowing when Game 4 will start on Tuesday, thanks to televisions control of the schedule. Both teams also were initially cagey about their starting pitchers. The Dodgers must choose between Kershaw on short rest or youngster Julio Urias (5-2, 3.39 ERA). The Nationals are likely to use Joe Ross (7-5, 3.43) or Reynaldo Lopez (5-3, 4.91), keeping 20-game winner Max Scherzer in reserve for a Game 5 or the NLCS. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Stitched NFL Jerseys . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. http://www.cheapnfljerseyschinateam.com/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. China NFL Jerseys . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3.Sebastian Polter had a tough grounding under Felix Magath at Wolfsburg, bonded with the fans at Union Berlin and is now making the breakthrough at Queens Park Rangers under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Adam Bate met up with him at the clubs Harlington training ground to get the story so far... There are those at Fulham still recovering from their Felix Magath ordeal. The German drill sergeant, a coach-cum-torturer with a penchant for emptying his players water bottles, isnt for everyone. And yet, one man among Saturdays opponents relished the experience. But then, QPR striker Sebastian Polter never has been afraid of hard work.I had a good manager at Wolfsburg in Felix Magath who made me very strong when I was young, Polter tells Sky Sports. We always worked hard with him. Some in England know that now! I enjoyed it though. Indeed, it was under Magath that Polter made a spectacular start to life in the Bundesliga. Felix Magath looks on as Sebastian Polter is introduced for Wolfsburg at Hannover The young forward caused a stir in coming off the bench to score winning goals in his first two home games against Stuttgart and Cologne. But a subsequent move was a disappointment - I wasnt so lucky in Mainz - and it was a loan spell at second-tier side Union Berlin that earned him a summer switch to QPR. Its a move that Polter had craved.My wife and two kids are over here and were enjoying it, he says. Even when I was a little boy I was always looking to England for the football. That was the most important thing and I always wanted to come and play here. It wasnt any specific team, it was just the style of football that I like. Its up and down and Im a striker who will fight for every ball. It suits me. Polter had a good relationship with the supporters at Union Berlin Even so, the challenge of adapting to life in a new league has still been a difficult one for the 24-year-old. The Championship is very different to the leagues that Ive played in before, he adds. Its more physical here and there are a lot more games. In Germany you just have to worry about position and maybe wait for a counter-attack.Its more tactical and its about knowing those tactics. Do we go high or do we press? Here, its run, run, run, defend, defend, defend. Fortunately for Polter, thats something of a forte and hes now scored four goals in his last seven games, winning the supporters over with his work rate - just as he did in Berlin. Polter has big shoes to fill after Charlie Austins departure. Can he do it? Ive always had a good rapport with the fans because I talk to them, he says. The supporters are important. That was especially the case in Berlin. All the family, together with the fans, would go away on a trip in January. There were 500 to 1000 fans with us and you just talk to them.It sounds straightforward but Polters time in England has not been without its communication problems. Under Chris Ramsey, he made only two starts and both of them were in the Capital One Cup. He took to Twitter tto express his frustration at making a slow start to life at QPR and acknowledges it was a tough start to life in a new country.dddddddddddd Polter found the net on his first start against Yeovil but had to wait for his chance I always worked hard but in the first four months I was not happy, he admits. The first four months werent the best for me, everybody knows that. But something has changed. We have a new gaffer and I am on the pitch. While its taken time for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to turn results around, for Polter the transformation was immediate.He believes in me but hes pushing me as well, he explains. Its not a case of believing in me and letting me do what I want to do. He wants me to work hard in training and in the games. He was a striker himself and he knows what I can do for the team. He has done one-on-one stuff with me and thats important for me. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has helped transform Polters fortunes at QPR Hasselbaink wants Polter to become more selfish in front of goal. He said that to me. Sometimes I will see my team-mates in a better position but Im a striker so sometimes I have to be more selfish. But with a new partner in Conor Washington, the support is there and with it some renewed optimism.QPR are unbeaten in five games and while draws continue to be an issue, Polter feels fresh enough to take advantage as others fade. The German is doing without a winter break for the first time but having sat out the start of the campaign, he doesnt need one and is instead eyeing a march up the table. Theyre currently 11 points off the play-offs. Polter has scored four goals for QPR in his last seven appearances Weve gone two games without conceding a goal so we have a good defence thats winning us points as well, says Polter. The most important thing is to be together as a team every game. The training is a little bit harder under the new gaffer and the results will come. Weve seen this since we changed it a bit. .The first half of the season was not good. Everyone was looking to us and wondering how QPR would do in the Championship. We didnt do so well but now were doing better and better. The thing Ive taken from the Championship is that its very strange and crazy. It can change quickly. Now were turning it around, why cant we make it to fifth or sixth place?There are so many games and there are a lot of players from different countries who maybe dont know what the Championship is like. By now, maybe theyre running on empty a bit and thinking that they need a breather. Theyre thinking that 30 games is enough for them. Ive not been playing 30 games like some of the other guys so I can give it everything. Maybe nows the time we can take points off the big clubs as well. You can see that theyve been dropping points because they think theyre in a comfy position. Maybe theyll lose points here and there. Its important for us to know that. But we just have to work hard and step by step get closer to them. I know if we play as a team we can go higher and higher.So with a contract at the club until the summer of 2018, whats next for Polter? I dont look too far ahead, he says. We just need to keep getting points. Our plan is just to get as many points as we can and my aim is to play as many minutes as I can. Of course, I will play as much as I can for QPR. If we dont go up, then well go again next year.I will continue to do hard work but thats not enough. You have to do hard work every time. Its the mantra that Polter returns to again and again. In fact, its almost as if this appetite has been drilled into him. One senses that somewhere, his old boss Felix Magath would surely approve. Also See: Watch the Championship goals Queens Park Rangers 1 Ipswich 0 ' ' '
