Northamptonshire 64 for 3 (Leach 3-28) trail Worcestershire 277 (Cox 74, Whiteley 66, Leach 51, Azharullah 4-68) by 213 runsScorecard Joe Leach made a valuable half-century and then took three wickets to give Worcestershire the better of the opening day at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire closed 64 for 3, trailing by 213.Leachs first contribution was an unbeaten 51 to help Worcestershire post 277 - a fine comeback having been 54 for 5 in the morning session. He then removed Ben Duckett, lbw for 4, Rob Keogh, caught behind also for 4, and Rob Newton, held at first slip for 15, to ensure the visitors ended the happier of the sides after winning the toss.It was an impressive turnaround after Ben Cox and Ross Whiteley shared 129 for the sixth wicket to revive the Worcestershire innings. Having taken lunch 63 for 5, runs flowed after interval with the sun out. Whiteley was first to his fifty - his fourth of the season - brought up in 60 balls with eight fours and a slog-swept six off Seekkuge Prasanna. Cox followed in 82 balls with his seventh four, edged to fine third man.It was a positive partnership made in 30.3 overs but both batsmen fell within five overs of each other. First Whiteley was beaten by a Steven Crook delivery that clipped his off stump and then Cox was held at second slip off the third ball of Ben Sandersons new spell.Sanderson went on to trap debutant George Rhodes lbw for 14 and Prasanna picked up a wicket when he bowled Ed Barnard. But Leach provided a second batting point with three consecutive boundaries off Azharullah and a tenth-wicket stand worth 50 with Matt Henry. He raised a third consecutive Championship fifty in 67 balls with three foursLeach completed a handy comeback after a morning session where Worcestershire were in danger of being fired out very cheaply.Azharullah took four wickets in his opening nine-over spell. He struck with his first ball of the morning with an inswinger to take out Daryl Mitchells leg stump. Two misjudged pushes followed with Brett DOliveria caught by a diving Prasanna at square leg and Joe Clarke forcing to Saif Zaib at extra cover. Tom Kohler-Cadmore then edged an away-swinger to wicketkeeper David Murphy to give Azharullah a fourth wicket.Tom Fell looked fairly steady at No. 3 for the visitors. He took 16 balls to get off the mark but settled to drive Azharullah and then Crook for boundaries. But to the second ball of Sandersons new spell he shouldered arms and lost his off stump for 37. 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"I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement.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.Roarkk (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.ddddddddddddTurner 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. ' ' '