The Sports Xchange
Jun 7, 2017
LOS ANGELES -- Corey Seager homered and Yasmani Grandal doubled home the go-ahead run to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Clayton Kershaw (8-2) struck out nine with three walks. He allowed one run on three hits in seven innings to help the Dodgers (36-25) end a three-game slide and avoid a sweep in the three-game series.
Kershaw joins Colorado Rockies rookie Antonio Senzatela as the National League's only eight-game winners.
Closer Kenley Jansen got the final four outs for his 10th save.
Kershaw outdueled Washington starter Stephen Strasburg in their first-ever matchup. Although Strasburg blanked the Dodgers for five innings, they rallied for two runs in the sixth. Strasburg fanned eight with one walk, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings.
Ryan Zimmerman hammered the first pitch from Kershaw into the seats in left for a solo shot to open the second inning. It was Zimmerman's club-high 17th home run this season.
Seager's solo blast with two outs in the sixth tied the score at 1. For Seager, it was his eighth home run and first since May 20, a span of 16 games.
Adrian Gonzalez kept the inning alive by reaching on a third strike that got past catcher Jose Lobaton, and Gonzalez advanced to second on a wild pitch. Grandal followed with his run-scoring double for the lead.
Washington's Trea Turner led off the eighth with a triple. However, he was tagged out at the plate after getting caught in a rundown for the second out in the inning when Bryce Harper hit a comebacker to reliever Pedro Baez.
The Nationals (37-21) had their three-game winning streak snapped. They capped their nine-game road swing with a 7-2 record.
NOTES: Struggling Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda has been banished to the bullpen, giving way to LHP Alex Wood (SC joint inflammation), who is scheduled to come off the 10-day disabled list and start Saturday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds. ... The Nationals will host the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in a make-up game that was rained out on May 11. Orioles RHP Alex Asher (2-3, 3.62 ERA) will oppose RHP Joe Ross (2-2, 7.34). ... Los Angeles is off Thursday before engaging in a three-game homestand against the Reds. Cincinnati LHP Amir Garrett (3-4, 7.17) will face Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (2-2, 4.15) in the opener.