WASHINGTON -- Home-field advantage in the NL Division Series assured while his teams game was in progress, Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker called upon closer Mark Melancon in the eighth inning.It was only the second time all season -- and first since April -- that Melancon was asked to get more than three outs for a save. Just getting prepped for what could happen in the postseason.Melancon got the final four outs for his 46th save, Bryce Harper provided an RBI single and rkie Trea Turner hit his 13th homer and stole his 32nd base, helping the Nationals beat the Miami Marlins on Saturday.I havent done it much in the past, Melancon said about his extended outing. But I expect that to happen in the playoffs.Baker said his ace, Max Scherzer, came up to him in the dugout after Melancon was inserted with two outs in the eighth to protect a one-run lead.He goes, `I see what youre doing. I said, `What you talking about? And he said, `I see youre practicing for Game 1 of the playoffs -- when, indeed, that same situation could come up, Baker recounted.NL East champion Washingtons third trip to the postseason in five years will begin Friday in the nations capital against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with Scherzer slated to face Clayton Kershaw. Game 2 is the following day, before the best-of-five NLDS shifts to L.A.The Nationals, it turned out, didnt need to beat the Marlins. The Dodgers 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants, assuring Washington a better record than Los Angeles, was announced before the bottom of the seventh to the Nationals Park crowd of 31,635, which responded with a standing ovation.While home field might not seem like a big deal in a short series, Baker figured it was important in this instance.Thats because the Dodgers went 53-28 at home, a .654 winning percentage, but are only 38-42 on the road, .475.Theyre under .500 on the road and way over .500 at home. So which one would you suggest? Baker said. Im not a numbers man, exactly, but I think it would be to our best interest -- give us the best chance -- to have them come here, versus us going there.Roark (16-10), lined up to pitch Game 2 against the Dodgers, went 5 2/3 innings and allowed Miami only one run and three hits, including Chris Johnsons RBI single to right in the sixth.Turner singled and came around to score on Harpers line drive up the middle in the first inning, then delivered a solo shot off Wei-Yin Chen (5-5) in the fifth.Harper struck out twice, giving him six Ks in two nights after missing four games with a sore left thumb. Fans bed when he was walked intentionally in the eighth.SITTING STANTONMarlins RF Giancarlo Stanton was out of the starting lineup Saturday, and will be on Sunday, t, manager Don Mattingly said, to make sure the slugger does not enter the offseason hurt. Stanton was sidelined with a groin injury into September. He may get an at-bat, a pinch-hit, or something like that. He still wasnt playing at 100 percent, Mattingly explained, and once the games were meaningless, its harder to take a chance on him having to rehab during the winter.TRAINERS RMNationals: LF Jayson Werth was out of the lineup, a day after leaving the game because of a tight back that he said was not a serious injury. Baker called the decision to hold out Werth on Saturday more precaution than anything. ... 2B Daniel Murphy sat out again with an injured glute muscle.UP NEXTMarlins: Wrap up the season, sending RHP Tom Koehler (9-13, 4.15 ERA) to the mound.Nationals: In what will be Washingtons first -- and last -- entirely meaningless game of 2016, RHP Scherzer takes a 19-7 record, 2.82 ERA and career-high 277 Ks into the regular-season finale, chasing an NL Cy Young Award to add to the 2013 AL honor he won for Detroit while going 21-3. Thats been the pinnacle for pitchers ever since I was in the game -- and long before me. It would be forever: `Hes a 20-game winner, Baker said. Expounding on how he views pitchers stats, Baker said: People put a lot of emphasis on ERA, which is gd, but I put emphasis on wins for a guy that knows how to win.Nike Air Max 90 Shoes Sale . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Nike Air Max 90 White . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. http://www.airmax90outletonline.com/ .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Nike Shoes Air Max 90 Womens .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Mens . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week.LONDON -- Pep Guardiola was outwitted at his own philosophy by Mauricio Pochettino on Sunday as his perfect Premier League start with Manchester City was ended by Tottenham, which surged to a 2-0 victory to remain the only unbeaten team.Tottenhams high-pressing proved just t energetic and slick for City to handle as Pochettinos side executed the passing game that is usually Guardiolas hallmark to perfection.You have to recognize when the opponents are better, Guardiola said.We knew how aggressive they are. It was difficult ... we lost a lot of balls. They were one step in front of us today.Far from suffering a hangover after last seasons title-challenge collapse, Spurs are enjoying their best-ever start since 1960-61 when they last won the top flight. And thats even as Harry Kane, the leagues top scorer in 2015-16, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.City hadnt even trailed in the league season until traveling to White Hart Lane. The visitors only had themselves to blame for conceding in the ninth minute.Danny Roses cross from the left flank flew over forward Son Heung-min, and City defender Aleksandar Kolarov, under no pressure, swung at the ball before it bounced off his thigh and bobbled off the post into the net.It capped a calamitous week for Kolarov, whose defensive susceptibilities were exposed in Wednesdays draw at Celtic in the Champions League.City had won every game in all competitions until the trip to Scotland and Tottenham ensured Guardiola would taste defeat for the first time since succeeding Manuel Pellegrini.The former Barcelona coach could only admire how Tottenham extended its lead with an intense, flowing advance of the highest quality in the 37th minute.City conceded possession on the halfway line to Son, who charged forward before squaring to Alli. Although the return pass was intercepted briefly, Son regained the ball and poked it through a gap in the City defense for Alli to sweep a shot into the bottom corner of the net.Tottenham could even afford to miss a peenalty, with City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo blocking Erik Lamelas second-half spot kick.dddddddddddd.I dont think theres any denying they are a brilliant ftball team and they do like to play the ball, Alli said. We knew that if we got in their faces and kept working hard that wed create chances.City and Tottenham complete the seventh round as they started -- in first and second place. Tottenham is only a point behind now, though, after Pochettino sealed his first victory over Guardiola since the opening spell of his managerial career in 2009 when Espanyol conquered Barcelona.A relatively kind fixture list at the start of his City career meant this was arguably Guardiolas first big test. He flunked it.Although City has already won a Manchester derby against Jose Mourinhos United, that was against a side still rebuilding from last seasons fifth-place finish. The other victories have all come against teams in the bottom half of the table.Tottenham posed questions that lethargic City -- sorely missing the injured Kevin De Bruynes distribution -- could not answer while the leagues stingiest defense proved an impenetrable barrier while the full backs pressed down the flanks.While media attention focused early season on the collision of managerial titans Guardiola and Mourinho in Manchester, the steady but impressive progress Tottenham has made under Pochettino since 2014 is often understated.Last season, Spurs were champion Leicesters closest challenger until a late implosion dropped them to third, which was still their highest finish in the Premier League era.If it keeps up this terms impressive form, Tottenhams sights will be set even higher, with the north London club longing for a first championship success since 1961.If we can play like we played today, why cant we be consistent for the whole season? Pochettino said. I know its a big effort but thats the way we work. ' ' '