WASHINGTON -- Putting guys on base was easy for the Los Angeles Dodgers, especially early in the game. Getting them home, that was the problem.So after leaving `em loaded three times and missing a chance to take a commanding lead over Washington in the NL Division Series, the Dodgers headed home tied at 1-all after a 5-2 loss Sunday.Overall, LA went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position -- 0 for 5 with the bases loaded -- and stranded 12. That gave the Dodgers an empty feeling going back to Chavez Ravine for Game 3 on Monday afternoon.Whether its a combination of their guys making good pitches or us just not getting the job done, that changes the whole game, said right fielder Josh Reddick, whose RBI single was that one hit with runners in scoring position. For the guys, Im sure theyre beating themselves up.Washington starter Tanner Roark looked very beatable, as LA got seven hits off him, including rookie shortstop Corey Seagers first-inning home run that was his second in as many games.The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the second inning and again in the third. The frustrating trend was made worse when backup Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton hit a three-run homer off Rich Hill in the fourth for a 3-2 lead.Hill tried to say the loss falls solely on him, but there was no one in the visiting clubhouse who agreed with that sentiment.Hill did have a chance at the plate. He struck out with three runners on in the second and then Chase Utley grounded out.Yasmani Grandal grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the third. In the fifth, again with the bases loaded, Grandal struck out and pinch hitter Howie Kendrick lined out to left.Manager Dave Roberts said his team stressed Roark, who lasted only 4 1/3 innings, but the Dodgers then didnt get a hit off the Nationals bullpen until there was one out in the ninth.We had the bases loaded, so we had some opportunities, just didnt capitalize, Roberts said.Added Seager: You did what you were looking for in getting the starter out early. Unfortunately we missed that big hit against the bullpen.Stranding 11 runners against Roark had the Dodgers wondering what could have been. But splitting the first two games of a series on the road gave them something of a silver lining, especially after the rain-postponed Game 2 made the wait for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium even shorter.If youve got to win two out of three, you want to have most of those games at home, and we do, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said.HILL HANGS CURVEHill hung his head after the loss, regretting a hanging curveball he left up to Lobaton on the homer and two inside pitches that hit Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa. The 36-year-old lefty had seven strikeouts but came out after 4 1/3 innings and was hard on himself for not executing pitches how he wanted.I believe were tied in the series now because I didnt execute, Hill said. For me its extremely disappointing.SEAGER MAKES HISTORYWith his second home run of the series, Seager tied Jim Gilliam for the most home runs in a postseason for a Dodgers rookie and joined Pee Wee Reese as the only Dodgers shortstops with multiple postseason home runs. On Friday, he went deep off Washington ace Max Scherzer.Asked to explain his success early in games, Seager said: I dont know. Luck, whatever it is.MURPHY MAKES DIFFERENCENationals 2B Daniel Murphy went 3 for 3 with 2 RBI, a walk and a run scored, drawing M-V-P chants from the sellout crowd of 43,826. Murphy tormented LA for the second straight October after helping the New York Mets advance past the Dodgers a year ago.Ever since last year he just seems to be the guy that comes up in the clutch, Reddick said. It shows what he can do this year, and playoff-wise its something special.UP NEXTIn Game 3, the Dodgers will have RHP Kenta Maeda (16-11, 3.48 ERA) on the mound against Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-11, 4.57. The Nationals are hoping Gonzalez can take advantage of the Dodgers worst-in-the-majors batting average against left-handed pitchers. Maeda led LA pitchers in wins, innings (175 2/3), strikeouts (179) and starts (32).---AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report. .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mike Mularkey credits Marcus Mariota for why the Tennessee Titans are scoring points at a clip this franchise has never seen before.Having Aaron Rodgers just isnt enough right now for the Green Bay Packers.Mariota threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns Sunday, helping the Titans rout the Packers 47-25 for their second win in three games.Tennessee has scored at least 35 points in three straight games in that span, something this franchise has never done before in a single season even with quarterbacks named George Blanda, Warren Moon or Steve McNair.Hes playing well for us right now, Mularkey said. He knows the things we cant do with the turnovers, but hes the reason we have the chance to put the points up.DeMarco Murray also ran for 123 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown on Tennessees first play from scrimmage. Six different Titans scored a touchdown helping Tennessee (5-5) match its win total of the past two seasons combined.The Packers (4-5) lost their third straight and for the fourth time in five games, falling below .500 at the latest point in the season since 2013 . Injuries are piling up, and it only gets tougher for Green Bay with two more road games before they play at Lambeau Field again.We dug ourselves a huge, huge hole and, frankly, it comes down to the basics of football, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. We werent nearly to the standard that we expect from one another.Here are some things to know about Tennessees big win:STREAKING MARIOTAMariota came into this game tied with Rodgers for the most touchdown passes in the NFL over the previous five weeks at 13. He threw two more than Rodgers to match the franchise record set by Moon in 1987 for most consecutive games with multiple TD passes at six. Mariota also has 21 TD passes this season, making him the first quarterback for this franchise to throw at least 20 in a season since Steve McNair had 24 in 2003. McNair was co-MVP that season with Peyton Manning.Mariota is the first quarterback in league history to have three games with a 70 percent or better completion rate, at least four TD passes and no interceptions during his first two seasons.POTENT TITANSTennessee has scored at least 26 points in each of the past six games, cranking up the offense to 36, 35 and now 47 points against Green Bay.dddddddddddd They also had five plays of at least 32 yards or longer, four of those passes from Mariota. He completed TD passes to four different players.STRUGGLING PACKERSFor the second straight week, the Packers found themselves trailing. This time, they have only themselves to blame after the Titans attempted an onside kick to open the game with the ball going straight to the Packers. With the ball at the Tennessee 49, Green Bay went three-and-out. It took a little bit to get going, Rodgers said.LEWAN EJECTEDThe Titans certainly didnt miss left tackle Taylor Lewan as DeMarco Murray ran for 123 yards and a TD with Tennessee piling up 446 yards of total offense. But Mariota was sacked twice, the first sacks allowed by Tennessee in three games. He was tossed after knocking away back judge Steve Freemans hand at the start of Tennessees second series. Mularkey said he had told his team referee Jeff Triplettes crew already had ejected five players this season. Lewan said he wasnt proud of what happened.INJURIESThe Packers lost two players within the first five minutes to ankle injuries. Both linebacker Jake Ryan and starting right guard T.J. Lang hurt ankles and originally were questionable to return before being ruled out early in the third quarter. Dan Barclay replaced Lang. Then Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari hurt a knee and was replaced by rookie Jason Spriggs late in the third quarter. McCarthy said they had so many injuries in the game he didnt have a list when he talked with reporters after the game or an update on Bakhtiari.QUOTABLEWe knew we had to bring it, or it could have gotten ugly for us, said Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo who had two of Tennessees five sacks.UP NEXT:Packers: Remain on the road, facing the Washington Redskins.Titans: Travel to Indy to face the AFC South rival Colts.---For more NFL coverage:
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