Before the playoffs began Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the stage wouldn’t overwhelm young outfielders Juan Soto and Victor Robles.
That was certainly true Sunday night, as Soto blasted a two-run homer to center field off Los Angeles Dodgers Hyun-Jin Ryu to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
It was the first postseason homer for Soto, 20, who broke into the majors in May 2018.
Soto struggled in the first two games of the series, with one hit in six at-bats in Los Angeles.
The homer brought the red-clad fans to their feet at Nationals Park, which will host Game 4 on Monday at 6:40 p.m.
Robles did not start due to a sore hamstring, as Michael A. Taylor got the nod in center field.
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