By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Editor 
Although the Philadelphia Phillies are not in the postseason, a handful of former Phils still remain in the playoffs, with two in particular playing a large part in the Los Angeles Dodgers win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Down 2-1 in the season, the Dodgers led 5-2 heading into the seventh, but Washington scored three against Clayton Kershaw, who was pitching on three day's rest, and Luis Avilan to knot things up heading into the eighth.
In the top half of the eighth, former Phillie Joe Blanton took the hill for the Dodgers, retiring the Nationals 1-2-3 with a strikeout, a line out and a groundout. With two quick outs for L.A. in the bottom of the eighth, Andrew Toles reached on a hit-by-pitch and Andre Eithier singled. Chase Utley stepped to the plate and slapped a single into right, just out of the reach of the second baseman, scoring Toles from second to give the Dodgers a 6-5 advantage.
In addition to delivering the go-ahead run, Utley ended the game with a spectacular play in the field, flipping the ball from his glove to Kenley Jansen covering first to retire Bryce Harper and force a decisive game five in the nation's capitol.
Joe Blanton was credited with the win, his first postseason victory since October 26, 2008 at Citizens Bank Bark during Game 4 of the World Series matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. Blanton pitched six innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven in the Phillies 10-2 win. He also hit a homer in that one.
Jayson Werth, another member of the Phillies 2008 Championship run, went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the game and is hitting .467 in the National League Divisional Series.
The Dodgers win means that the two teams head to Nationals Park for Game 5 on Thursday night. Max Scherzer gets the start for Washington while L.A. has yet to announce a starter.
