Dodgers look all wet in 4-0 loss to Nationals

There was this quick spurt of action, and then for a long time almost nothing. Unless you count that scintillating 3-hour, 17-minute rain delay.

Right-hander Zack Greinke, who had been remarkably consistent since the middle of last season, hiccuped with his first two batters of the night and that was all Washington would need on its way to 4-0 victory over the Dodgers on Monday at Nationals Park.

With rain already falling, outfielder Denard Span led off the first inning with a double and third baseman Anthony Rendon followed with a two-run homer, and that was your ballgame.

The rain delay was called in the middle of the fourth inning, and when the game finally resumed, both Greinke and Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman did not return.

That ended Greinke’s impressive streak of 18 consecutive regular-season games (21 overall) of having pitched a least five innings and given up two or fewer runs.

The Dodgers had their chances to save Greinke (5-1) from taking his first loss of the season, collecting eight hits but never mounting a particularly serious scoring threat.

The Nationals used six different pitchers and not one of them gave up a walk.

By the time the game resumed following the lengthy rain delay, it was almost midnight and the crowd had diminished to a few hundred. It made for a slightly eerie experience, with every fan’s catcall heard clearly throughout the park.

The Dodgers used five pitchers themselves, including Pedro Baez, who made what could be considered a shaky major-league debut.

Baez, just called up Monday, spent six seasons with the Dodgers as a third baseman before being converted to a pitcher last season. He throws in the upper 90s, but he may yet have some work to do.

Ian Desmond greeted him with a hit, and Danny Espinosa followed with a two-run homer.