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 rookie 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 booed 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, too, 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 ROOMNationals: 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 good, but I put emphasis on wins for a guy that knows how to win. Air Jordan Retro 12 Wholesale .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Cheap Jordan Retro 12 . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. http://www.cheapairjordan12.com/ . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Cheap Jordan 12 For Sale . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Jordan 12 Low Cheap . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. STORRS, Conn. -- UConn, one of several programs being mentioned as a potential candidate for expansion by the Big 12 Conference, is dealing with something new in Bob Diacos third season as its head coach: higher expectations.The Huskies, who went 2-10 in 2014, improved to 6-7 last season. They also handed Houston its only regular-season loss before falling to Marshall 16-10 in the St. Petersburg Bowl -- UConns first bowl game in five years.The team returns 15 starters this season and fans are hoping the Huskies can make a statement loud enough to be heard by those making the expansion decisions in Texas. Diaco said hes not paying attention to what is being said outside the program but embraces the enthusiasm.If you cant get excited about people really wanting you to achieve, then youre in the wrong business, youre in the wrong game, Diaco said. Its the best. I love that.The Huskies ranked just 117th in the nation in total offense last season, but return four starters from its offensive line, and will get back center Ryan Crozier, who missed last season with a knee injury.Junior quarterback Bryant Shirreffs threw for 2,078 yards and nine touchdowns, and ran for 503 yards, a year ago. He is back and so is his top target, Noel Thomas, who caught 54 passes for 719 yards and three TDs.Diaco said Shirreffs isnt a lock to be the teams starting quarterback and is being pushed by senior Garrett Anderson, a junior-college transfer who played some receiver last year.The defense, which gave up just 19.5 points per game, is expected to be the teams strength, led by safety Obi Melifonwu.We have a base, a foundation and a building, said linebacker Matt Walsh. Now were just putting a whole other floor on it.Here are some of the other things to watch for in advance of UConns season opener on Sept. 1 against Maine:KEY GAMESUConns position in the American Athletic Conference could be decided during a key stretch that begins wiith a Sept.dddddddddddd. 29 visit to Houston, which lost to the Huskies 20-17 in East Hartford last year. UConn then returns home to face Cincinnati on Oct. 8. Both programs have been mentioned in Big 12 expansion talks. The Huskies also renew their rivalry with Boston College at Chestnut Hill on Nov. 19.RUNNING BACKSThe tailback tandem of Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson are back after combining for 1,016 rushing yards last season. Backup Josh Marriner transferred to Old Dominion during the offseason. Two freshmen on the roster, Nate Hopkins and JaKevious Vickers, could also get some carries.DAVIS SWITCHTyler Davis has switched positions. Recruited as a quarterback, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt freshman will instead be catching passes and running out of the F or slot-back position this year. Diaco said it didnt make much sense to have someone as athletically talented as Davis sitting on the bench as a backup quarterback.Theres so many jobs he can do for the team more than just stand on the sidelines and wait to go in at quarterback after two or three guys have a problem, he said. Get him in a spot where he can be an impact player.GAMEDAY EXPERIENCEAthletic director David Benedict says he wants to improve the game-day experience to get more fans to Rentschler Field. He has cut the prices of some concessions and eased parking restrictions in an effort to encourage tailgating. He also announced that plans for a ticket surcharge that would help pay for new soccer, baseball and softball fields at the school wont be implemented this season.PREDICTIONA 7-5 season and a second consecutive bowl game would be another step forward for UConn, though it may not be enough to convince the Big 12 that UConn football is worth adding.---This story has been corrected to show 2014 record was 2-10. ' ' '