Albert Pujols is one of many stars for Dodgers in 5-1 win over Nationals
WASHINGTON — On a day Major League Baseball announced the reserves for the All-Star game, it was Albert Pujols — a 41-year-old future Hall of Famer signed two months ago as a platoon player six years removed from his 10th and likely final All-Star appearance — delivering the hit the Dodgers needed the most in their 5-1 matinee win Sunday over the Washington Nationals.
The score was tied when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts summoned Pujols, usually limited to at-bats opposite left-handers, to pinch-hit against right-hander Joe Ross. To that point, Ross was dealing, having just recorded his 11th strikeout. But Gavin Lux was at second base after a leadoff double and Pujols smelled the RBI.
He generated it by lining a sinker down the left-field line for a single to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Roberts had Tony Gonsolin, a pitcher, pinch-run for the slow-footed first baseman and the move proved prescient when Gonsolin scored from first base on Max Muncy’s double to the right-center field gap. Muncy added a two-run double in the ninth inning.
Dodgers sweep Nationals, extend win streak to nine
Highlights from the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
Dodgers: Right-hander Wander Suero now pitching for the Nationals. Lux singled to right. Barnes singled to right, Lux to second. Justin Turner, batting for Nelson, got hit by a pitch. Hit his shoulder, then ricocheted into his face and helmet. He gets up and seems fine. Frightening moment. Watching it live, it looked like he got his flush on the face. Bases loaded, no one out. Betts popped to second. Muncy doubled to deep center, scoring two, with Turner stopping at third. It’s 5-1 Dodgers. Parra, the center fielder, ran face first into the fence. But he’s fine. And that’s it for Suero. He is replaced by right-hander Andres Machado. Pollock was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Bellinger struck out swinging. Taylor struck out looking at a pitch that was low. And that made Dave Roberts angry. Yelling at the ump. Surprised he wasn’t tossed.
Nationals: Right-hander Kenley Jansen now pitching for the Dodgers. Escobar singled to left. Ryan Zimmerman, batting for the pitcher, struck out swinging. Barrera grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Dodgers have won nine in a row.
Score after nine: Dodgers 5, Nationals 1
Dodgers are three outs away from sweeping Nationals
Dodgers: Bellinger struck out looking. Taylor flied to center. McKinstry flied to center.
Nationals: Right-hander Jimmy Nelson now pitching. Castro flied to center. Bell grounded to short. Hernandez grounded to short.
Score after eight: Dodgers 3, Nationals 1
Dodgers take 3-1 lead on Albert Pujols’ pinch-hit single, Muncy’s double
Dodgers: Lux doubled to right-center. Barnes struck out looking. Albert Pujols, batting for Price, singled to left, scoring Lux. Tony Gonsolin ran for Pujols. Betts flied to left-center. And that’s it for Ross, who pitched a good game. Left-hander Brad Hand is now pitching for the Nationals. Gerardo Parra comes in to play center. Muncy doubled to deep right-center, scoring Gonsolin. AJ Pollock, batting for Beaty, struck out looking.
Nationals: Pollock to left field. Right-hander Blake Treinen now pitching for the Dodgers. Barrera singled to right. Parra struck out swinging. Harrison fouled to first. Soto flied to center.
Score after seven: Dodgers 2, Nationals 1
It’s still 1-1 after six innings
Dodgers: Bellinger flied to center. Taylor struck out swinging. McKinstry struck out swinging. Joe Ross has 10 strikeouts through six innings.
Nationals: Bell singled to center and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Hernandez struck out swinging. Escobar doubled to right-center. Robles struck out looking.
Score after six: Dodgers 1, Nationals 1
It’s 1-1 after five innings
Dodgers: Betts flied to right. Muncy grounded to second. Beaty flied to left.
Nationals: Left-hander David Price now pitching for the Dodgers. Ross struck out swinging. Harrison struck out, but reached first because of catcher’s interference. Harrison’s swing hit Barnes’ glove. Soto walked on seven pitches. First and second, one out. Castro grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.
Score after five: Dodgers 1, Nationals 1
Dodgers tie it on Matt Beaty’s homer
Dodgers: Beaty homered to center, estimated at 401 feet. Bellinger flied to center. Taylor struck out swinging. McKinstry singled to center. Lux singled to left, McKinstry to second. Barnes was hit on the helmet by a pitch. Barnes barely flinched and seems fine. Bases loaded, two out. Steve Souza Jr., batting for the pitcher, struck out looking. He was very unhappy with the call, which was borderline.
Nationals: Right-hander Joe Kelly now pitching for the Dodgers. Hernandez struck out swinging. Escobar singled to center. Robles struck out swinging. Escobar tried to steal second while Robles struck out, but the plate ump ruled that Robles interfered with Barnes. His swing follow-through hit Barnes in the back. Barrera grounded to second.
Score after four: Dodgers 1, Nationals 1
Nationals have 1-0 lead after three innings
Dodgers: Austin Barnes grounded to third. Phil Bickford struck out looking. Betts singled to left. Muncy grounded to first.
Nationals: Joe Ross struck out swinging. Harrison walked on seven pitches. And that’s it for Bickford. Left-hander Victor González now pitching for the Dodgers. Soto singled to center, Harrison to second. Castro singled to center, scoring Harrison, Soto to third. Bell grounded into a 1-4-3 double play.
Score after three: Nationals 1, Dodgers 0
No score after two innings
Dodgers: Cody Bellinger struck out swinging. I’m detecting a pattern. Chris Taylor singled to center. Zach McKinstry struck out swinging. Gavin Lux grounded to second.
Nationals: Right-hander Phil Bickford now pitching for the Dodgers. Alcides Escobar grounded to third. Victor Robles struck out swinging. Tres Barrera struck out swinging.
Score after two: Dodgers 0, Nationals 0
Breakfast with the Dodgers: A scoreless first inning
Dodgers: Right-hander Joe Ross pitching for the Nationals. Mookie Betts struck out swinging. Max Muncy struck out swinging. Matt Beaty struck out swinging. Monotonous.
Nationals: Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger pitching for the Dodgers in what is basically a bullpen game for the Dodgers. Josh Harrison grounded to short. Juan Soto popped to shallow center. Lux made a nice running grab of it. Starling Castro doubled to right-center. Josh Bell walked on six pitches. Yadiel Hernandez struck out swinging.
Score after one: Dodgers 0, Nationals 0
Justin Turner given Sunday matinee off against Nationals
WASHINGTON — The Dodgers and Nationals were back at the ballpark Sunday morning after Saturday night’s rain-delayed game ended at 12:32 a.m. Sunday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the quick turnaround presents an injury risk for players. As a result, 36-year-old Justin Turner was given Sunday off.
The Dodgers will look for their ninth straight win and a four-game sweep without Turner in the lineup before traveling to Miami on Sunday night. With a win and a Giants loss, they’ll wake up Monday in first place in the National League West.
DODGERS (52-31)
Mookie Betts RF
Max Muncy 1B
Matt Beaty LF
Cody Bellinger CF
Chris Taylor 2B
Zach McKinstry 3B
Gavin Lux SS
Austin Barnes C
Garrett Cleavinger P
NATIONALS (40-41)
Josh Harrison 2B
Juan Soto RF
Starlin Castro 3B
Josh Bell 1B
Yadiel Hernandez LF
Alcides Escobar SS
Victor Robles CF
Tres Barrera C
Joe Ross P
Dodgers option Brusdar Graterol, recall Edwin Uceta
WASHINGTON — In need of fresh arms, the Dodgers recalled Edwin Uceta and optioned Brusdar Graterol ahead of their bullpen game against the Nationals on Sunday.
Graterol’s stint with the Dodgers lasted two games. The right-hander was called up Friday after Trevor Bauer was placed on seven-day paid administrative leave after a woman accused him of sexual assault and obtained a temporary restraining order against him Tuesday.
Bauer had been scheduled to start Sunday. The Dodgers will now have Garrett Cleavinger open the game.
Uceta is a starter by trade, but he hasn’t logged more than four innings in any of his 12 outings between triple A and the majors. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he can throw 75 to 80 pitches Sunday.
The Dodgers will also have David Price to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen. Manager Dave Roberts said “everyone” is available in relief. The Nationals will counter with a conventional starter — right-hander Joe Ross.
Dodgers wait out long rain delay, defeat Nationals for eighth consecutive win
WASHINGTON — Clayton Kershaw glanced up when Yan Gomes swatted the pitch Saturday night at Nationals Park, yelled in frustration once he realized where the ball was going and looked away. It landed over the left-field wall with two outs in the fourth inning for a score-tying, three-run home run.
Most of the time, Kershaw would have rebounded, finished strong and kept the Dodgers in the game. Mother Nature had other plans. Within minutes, with one out in the top of the fifth inning, the skies opened and the game was stopped. It resumed after a rain delay of 1 hour 44 minutes without Kershaw or Washington Nationals starter Paulo Espino.
The Dodgers went on to win, 5-3, to extend their winning streak to eight games and tie the San Francisco Giants for first in the National League West. The Giants were still playing at Arizona later Saturday.
Dodgers defeat the Washington Nationals 5-3
The Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday after a rain delay of one hour and 44 minutes to extend their winning streak to eight games.
Chris Taylor hit a run-scoring double off Washington Nationals reliever Kyle McGowin in the ninth inning to give the Dodgers a bit of breathing room.
Taylor’s flare into the left-center field gap was enough to score Gavin Lux from second. Lux led off the inning with a walk before stealing second.
Kenley Jansen pitched the bottom of the ninth and got out of a jam after allowing two on with no outs. He struck out Gerardo Parra and Alcides Escobar before Josh Bell lined out to short to end the game.
The Dodgers improved to 52-31 on the season. They wrap up their four-game series with the Nationals in less than 11 hours when they play the Nationals at 8:05 a.m. PDT.
Dodgers still lead heading into the ninth inning
Blake Treinen mowed through the top of the Nationals order, striking out Josh Harrison in the process to send the game into the ninth. Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux made a great grab on a sizzler off Ryan Zimmerman’s bat to make it a 1-2-3 inning.
Washington reliever Austin Voth retired the Dodgers in order.
End of eighth: Dodgers 4, Nationals 3
Dodgers lead Nationals 4-3 heading into the eighth inning
Dodgers reliever Phil Bickford took over for Joe Kelly in the seventh, allowing a leadoff single to Alcides Escobar. On the next at-bat, Justin Turner dropped the ball while trying to make a charging catch on bunt popped up by Victor Robles, but the drop allowed him to force out Alcides at second.
Will Smith then caught Robles stealing to end the inning. Robles was initially called safe before a video review confirmed Max Muncy had tagged him before he reached the bag.
Nationals reliever Sam Clay retired Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Justin Turner in order.
End of seventh: Dodgers 4, Nationals 3
AJ Pollock’s run-scoring single puts Dodgers back into the lead
AJ Pollock drove in Will Smith on a chopper down the third-base line to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning.
With two outs, Pollock narrowly beat out third baseman Starlin Castro’s throw to first, allowing Smith to score.
Smith reached base after Nationals reliever Wander Suero hit him with a pitch. Two batters later, a sharp grounder off the bat of Albert Pujols was bobbled by shortstop Alcides Escobar, thwarting a potential double-play. Alcides’ toss to second wasn’t in time to force out Smith, and second baseman Josh Harrison’s bad throw to first allowed Pujols to be safe. It also gave Smith enough time to take third.
Matt Beaty followed Pollock’s at-bat with a popup to second to cap the scoring.
Reliever Joe Kelly took the mound for the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth, and struck out Gerardo Parra to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
Kelly allowed a single to Josh Harrison and walked Starlin Castro. He then hit Yan Gomes with a 98-mph fastball. The Nationals catcher was visibly miffed — and in some pain — as he looked toward the mound while walking to first. Kelly then got Parra to bite on an 87-mph curve to defuse the situation.
End of sixth: Dodgers 4, Nationals 3
Brusdar Graterol retires Nationals in order in the fifth inning
Brusdar Graterol, taking over in relief of Clayton Kershaw after a rain delay of 1 hour and 44 minutes, retired the Nationals in order in the fifth inning, striking out Alcides Escobar and Jon Lester in the process.
Kershaw allowed three earned runs — all off a three-run homer by Yan Gomes — three hits, one walk and struck out three over four innings.
Max Muncy and Justin Turner grounded out against Nationals reliever Ryne Harper as part of a 1-2-3 inning.
End of fifth: Dodgers 3, Nationals 3
Play resumes between Dodgers and Nationals after rain delay
Play has resumed after a rain delay of 1 hour and 44 minutes at Nationals Park. A downpour suspended play with one out in the top of the fifth inning with the teams tied 3-3.
Max Muncy will face Nationals reliever Ryne Harper once the game resumes. Brusdar Graterol is warming up in the bullpen and is set to come in for Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.
The rain started falling toward the end of the fourth inning before getting progressively heavier as the fifth inning started. As soon as Mookie Betts grounded out to second base for the first out, umpires suspended play and the tarp came out.
Yan Gomes hits three-run home run for Nationals to tie game
Washington’s Yan Gomes hit a three-run home run off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw to tie the game 3-3 in the fourth inning.
Kershaw walked Juan Soto before allowing a two-out single to Starlin Castro. Gomes then crushed the sixth pitch of his at-bat into the left-field stands for his eighth homer of the season.
The inning ended with rain starting to come down hard on the field at Nationals Park.
End of fourth: Dodgers 3, Nationals 3
Dodgers take 3-0 lead over Nationals in the fourth
Will Smith and Albert Pujols each drove in runs on sacrifice flies and Gavin Lux hit a run-scoring double to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Max Muncy led off with a walk before Justin Turner singled past a diving Alcides Escobar at short. Cody Bellinger then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs, prompting a mound visit for Nationals starter Paolo Espino before Smith’s fly to center field.
Pujols followed with a deep fly to right field to plate Turner and move Bellinger to third. Lux drove in the 2019 NL MVP on a liner into the right-center field gap. The scoring surge ended when Clayton Kershaw grounded out on a dribbler to the mound.
Clayton Kershaw and Paolo Espino frustrating batters so far
The Dodgers once again went down in order, they’re only hit so far coming on Mookie Betts’ single to lead off the game.
Clayton Kershaw also retired the Nationals 1-2-3, striking out pitcher Paolo Espino to end the inning.
End of third: Dodgers 0, Nationals 0
Dodgers retire Nationals in order in the second inning
Clayton Kershaw put down the Nationals 1-2-3 in the second inning, striking out Starlin Castro and getting Yan Gomes and Gerardo Parra to ground out to keep the game scoreless.
Nationals pitcher Paolo Espino retired the Dodgers in order in the top of the inning, striking out Will Smith in the process.
End of the second: Dodgers 0, Nationals 0
Dodgers and Nationals scoreless heading into the second
On his first pitch, Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw took a comebacker off his glove and seemed to tweak his neck slightly while trying to make a play on Josh Harrison’s single. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, speaking on the Fox broadcast in the second inning, said Kershaw sustained a stinger and shook it off.
After a quick visit by the team trainer, Kershaw stayed on the mound and got Juan Soto to ground out into a double play before Ryan Zimmerman popped out to deep left field.
Mookie Betts hit a leadoff single off Nationals starter Paolo Espino, but he was left on first when Max Muncy, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger flied out.
End of first: Dodgers 0, Nationals 0
Dodgers looking for their eighth straight win with Clayton Kershaw on the mound
Dodgers celebrate World Series title at White House, then extend winning streak
WASHINGTON — It took 32 years filled with disappointing summers and October heartbreak, but the Dodgers returned to the White House as World Series champions Friday before they beat the Washington Nationals 10-5 for their seventh straight win.
They were the first team President Biden honored during his administration and the first honored at all since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the United States last March.
Approximately 50 members of the organization, including 20 players, populated the East Room. Most of the party stood behind Biden in three rows. The World Series trophy was set on a table next to the president’s podium.
Principal owner Mark Walter stood in the middle of the front row next to Clayton Kershaw, first-time champion after a decade of heartbreak. Mayor Eric Garcetti and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy observed from the small, seated audience. Near the end, Garcetti, who wore a World Series ring, was invited up to pose with the group for photos.
Dodgers defeat the Washington Nationals, 10-5
The Dodgers extended their winning streak to seven games in a 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Cody Bellinger dropped what would have been the final out of the game on a run-scoring flare hit by Gerardo Parra, allowing the Nationals to plate one more run. It was the fourth error of the game for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers improved to 51-31 and Washington fell to 40-40 on the season.
Dodgers lead 10-4 heading into the ninth
Washington’s Josh Harrison scored on a fielding error by Max Muncy to make it 10-4 Dodgers heading into the ninth inning.
End of eighth: Dodgers 10, Nationals 4
Dodgers surge to 10-3 lead over Nationals after Max Scherzer exits game
Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Chris Taylor each hit two-run singles before AJ Pollock blasted a two-run home run as part of a nine-run seventh inning, giving the Dodgers a 10-3 lead.
Albert Pujols starting things off with a run-scoring single off Washington reliever Sam Clay. Betts followed with a bases-loaded, two-run single to left off Nationals reliever Austin Voth to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead — their first lead of the game. Muncy then followed with a single to plate Zach McKinstry and Betts.
Chris Taylor, who reached on a leadoff double, scored on Pujols’ hit. In his second appearance at the plate in the inning, Taylor hit a two-run single to center field off Washington reliever Kyle Lobstein — the third Nationals pitcher of the inning. Pollock then followed with his eighth homer of the season.
Pujols flied out in his second at-bat to end the inning.
It seems Nationals starter Max Scherzer was the only thing preventing the Dodgers from mounting an offensive explosion. Scherzer limited the Dodgers to four hits and one earned run over six innings.
End of seventh: Dodgers 10, Nationals 3
Dodgers struggling to generate offense against Nationals
Julio Urías got Yan Gomes to ground out into a double play to retire the Nationals in order in the bottom of the sixth.
Max Scherzer continues to frustrate the Dodgers at the plate. Mookie Betts, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger all flied out.
End of sixth: Nationals 3, Dodgers 1
Dodgers trail 3-1 heading into the sixth inning
The Dodgers go down in order in the fifth. Washington Nationals starter Max Scherzer struck out Gavin Lux and Austin Barnes and got Julio Urías to fly out to right.
In the bottom of the inning, Julio Urías walked Josh Harrison, but got Scherzer, Gerardo Parra and Juan Soto to ground out for another straightforward inning.
End of fifth: Nationals 3, Dodgers 1
Justin Turner hits home run; Dodgers trail 3-1 heading into fifth
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner hit a solo home run off Washington starter Max Scherzer to make it 3-1 Nationals in the fourth inning.
It was Turner’s 13th home run of the season.
Julio Urías retired the Nationals in order in the bottom of the inning.
End of fourth: Nationals 3, Dodgers 1
Washington Nationals jump out to 3-0 lead in the second inning
The Washington Nationals took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, capitalizing on a costly throwing error by Justin Turner.
Turner’s throwing error allowed Starlin Castro and Yan Gomes to score. On the following play, Humberto Arteaga’s sacrifice fly to center field plated Victor Robles.
End of second: Nationals 3, Dodgers 0
Dodgers and Nationals in a scoreless tie after first inning
Mookie Betts led off with a double off Nationals starter Max Scherzer. His time on the basepaths was short-lived, however, when center fielder Victor Robles gunned him out at third after fielding a popup by Max Muncy. Robles made a perfect throw and Betts didn’t have a chance.
Justin Turner followed with a single, but was left stranded when Scherzer struck out Cody Bellinger.
In the bottom half, Julio Urias struck out Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison, walked Juan Soto and then got Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to right field.
End of first: Dodgers 0, Nationals 0
Starting lineup for Dodgers vs. Nationals on Friday
Here’s the starting lineup for the Dodgers on Friday fresh off their visit to the White House:
Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer is placed on leave by MLB after assault allegation
WASHINGTON — Major League Baseball placed Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on paid administrative leave Friday after a woman accused him of sexual assault and obtained a temporary restraining order against him Tuesday.
Bauer traveled with the Dodgers to Washington on Wednesday. He was scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Washington Nationals. On Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the situation was “out of our hands” and he was following MLB’s direction.
Under MLB’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, commissioner Rob Manfred can place Bauer on paid administrative leave for seven days. The league can only extend the leave beyond seven days in agreement with the players union. Placing a player on leave is not considered a disciplinary action.
Betting lines and odds for Dodgers vs. Nationals on Friday
The Dodgers will try to retake the lead in the National League West for the first time since May when they continue their four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Julio Urías will get the start for the Dodgers. He is 6-2 in his eight road starts this season with opponents hitting .206 off of him with 1.6 walks per nine innings surrendered.
The Nationals will start ace Max Scherzer, who is limiting batters to a .162 average against him at home. In his last six home starts, he has allowed five runs across 35.1 innings, but the Nationals generated just six runs during that span.
Both teams rank in the top 10 in bullpen ERA over the past 30 days, with the Dodgers allowing just 0.6 home runs per nine innings. Kyle Schwarber has hit 12 home runs in the last 12 games for Washington.
The Nationals lead MLB in under with 67.1% of their totals going under; no other team has an under percentage above 59.2%. The Dodgers have played just two of Urías’ last 12 starts under the total and have allowed four runs or fewer in seven consecutive games.
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Dodgers don’t have position player voted as All-Star starter
WASHINGTON -- The Dodgers had five position players named finalists to start the All-Star Game at Coors Field for the National League. None got enough enough votes, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.
First baseman Max Muncy and third baseman Justin Turner finished second at their respective positions. Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (47%) beat out Muncy (34%) after Muncy led the first round of voting. The tallies were reset for the second phase.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (47%) eclipsed Turner (34%).
Mookie Betts (13%) finished fourth amongst outfielders behind Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, and Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker of the Cincinnati Reds. Chris Taylor (7%) finished tied for fifth in outfielder voting with former Dodger Joc Pederson.
Gavin Lux (21%) finished third amongst second basemen behind the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Adam Frazier (47%) and the Braves’ Ozzie Albies (32%).
Statistically, Muncy, Turner and Taylor have the best résumés to join the team as reserves. Dodgers pitchers Walker Buehler, Kenley Jansen and Clayton Kershaw are also possibilities. The full rosters for the July 13 games will be revealed Sunday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and his coaching staff will oversee the National League team as defending pennant winners. Roberts said Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black – the home team’s manager – and an unannounced “former baseball legend” will join the staff.
Dodgers defeat Nationals, 6-2, in rain-shortened game
WASHINGTON — There was an elevated focus in the Dodgers’ dugout entering the fifth inning at Nationals Park on Thursday night. The thunderstorms were coming and they were trailing the Washington Nationals by one run. A scoreless top of the fifth probably meant a loss and the end of their five-game winning streak. The weather forecast was not pretty.
The concerns were erased two pitches into the inning when AJ Pollock clubbed a slider from Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin for a home run. Tie game. Minutes later, the Dodgers had the bases loaded and Corbin hung a slider to Max Muncy. He swatted it for a grand slam.
In the moment, it gave the Dodgers a 6-2 lead. By the end of the night – after a delay of one hour and 17 minutes – it gave them their sixth straight win since getting no-hit by the Chicago Cubs.
“There was a little urgency in the dugout,” Muncy said. “But we were mostly just trying to play our game, trying to go out there and put good at-bats together. Thankfully the timing was right on that.”
Max Muncy’s grand slam gives Dodgers a 6-2 lead
Dodgers: Pollock leads it off and ties it with a homer that just got over the fence in left. It’s 2-2. Steven Souza Jr., batting for Gonsolin, singled to third. Betts struck out swinging. Taylor walked on six pitches. Turner singled sharply to center, loading the bases with one out. Muncy hit a grand slam to DEEP right. It’s 6-2 Dodgers. Pujols grounded to short. Bellinger singled to center. And that’s it for Corbin, he is replaced by right-hander Andres Machado. Smith singled to center. Pollock, who led off this inning with a homer, flied to right.
Nationals: Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger now pitching for the Dodgers. Schwarber walked on five pitches. Harrison grounded into a 4-3 double play. Soto grounded to short.
Score after five: Dodgers 6, Nationals 2
Dodgers tie it, then Nationals retake the lead in fourth
Dodgers: Taylor singled to center. Turner grounded to third, Taylor safe at second on the third baseman’s throwing error. First and second, nobody out. Mundy flied to center. Pujols singled to right, Taylor scoring, Turner to second. Bellinger flied to right. Smith flied to right.
Nationals: Bell singled to left-center. Gomes struck out swinging. Bell took second on a wild pitch. Castro singled to center, scoring Bell. The wild pitch proves costly. Castro was caught stealing. Avila walked on four pitches. Robles walked on four pitches. First and second, two out. Corbin struck out swinging.
Score after four: Nationals 2, Dodgers 1
It’s still 1-0 Nationals after three innings
Dodgers: Proving the theory that if you make a great defensive play, you lead off the next inning, AJ Pollock flied to center. Tony Gonsolin grounded to the pitcher. Betts struck out looking.
Nationals: Patrick Corbin struck out swinging. Schwarber struck out swinging. Harrison walked on five pitches. Soto grounded to the pitcher.
Score after three: Nationals 1, Dodgers 0
Dodgers will visit White House on Friday
WASHINGTON — The Dodgers’ trip to the nation’s capital this season will include a White House visit Friday as defending World Series champions.
The White House confirmed the news Thursday before the Dodgers opened a four-game series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
The Dodgers will be the first professional sports team to visit the White House as champions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first with President Biden in office.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet the team in the East Room at 11:40 a.m. Eastern time.
We head to the third, 1-0 Nationals
Dodgers: Albert Pujols grounded to the pitcher. Cody Bellinger grounded to short. Will Smith hit a slow roller to third and was thrown out. Nice play by Josh Harrison at third.
Nationals: Right-hander Tony Gonsolin now pitching for the Dodgers. Starlin Castro grounded to short. Alex Avila hit a line drive to left-center, but Pollock made a great running grab. Victor Robles flied to right.
Score after two: Nationals 1, Dodgers 0
Here are today’s starting lineups
Nationals take early 1-0 lead
Dodgers: Left-hander Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Nationals. Mookie Betts flied to right. Chris Taylor flied to center. Justin Turner singled to center. Max Muncy lined to second.
Nationals: Left-hander Victor Gonzalez gets the start. It has been raining off and on in D.C. today, so this turned in to a quasi-bullpen game. Usual starter Tony Gonsolin could pitch the bulk of the innings, depending on the weather. Kyle Schwarber doubled just inside the third-base line. More of a check swing than a real cut at the ball. But, it’s a line drive in the box score. Josh Harrison grounded to second, Schwarber to third. Juan Soto singled to center, scoring Schwarber. Josh Bell popped to second. And that’s it for Gonzalez. Right-hander Phil Bickford now pitching. Yan Gomes struck out swinging.
Score after one: Nationals 1, Dodgers 0
Dodgers transfer Corey Seager to 60-day injured list
Two weeks ago, the Dodgers expected Corey Seager to come off the injured list in early July, before the All-Star break.
The shortstop started taking batting practice with teammates on the field and was slated to go on rehab assignment by the end of the week. His fractured right hand was responding well. Manager Dave Roberts communicated optimism.
The tenor changed last week. The shortstop stopped hitting on the field and Roberts said he would need “some time” before going on rehab assignment. Earlier this week Roberts acknowledged that Seager had suffered a setback. The bone wasn’t healing. Hitting caused discomfort.
On Thursday, that setback became official. The Dodgers transferred Seager to the 60-day injured list and claimed right-handed reliever Bobby Wahl off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Seager was placed on the injured list May 15, meaning the earliest he can return to play in a game for the Dodgers is July 16 when they open the second half against the Colorado Rockies.
Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen has reclaimed his place as one of baseball’s elite closers, despite premature reports of his demise.
Seager broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch May 15. X-rays that night revealed a fracture in his fifth metacarpal, the bone at the base of his pinky finger. He was placed on the injured list the next day.
Roberts said the floor for Seager’s return was four weeks. He’ll end up missing at least two months.
At the time, Seager joined 10 teammates who were put on the injured list since the start of the season. That number has greatly diminished in recent weeks.
Cody Bellinger, Tony Gonsolin, Zach McKinstry, AJ Pollock, Brusdar Graterol and David Price have all since been activated. Graterol was optioned to triple-A Oklahoma City upon activation. Corey Knebel is expected to return by September. Ríos had season-ending shoulder surgery.
The Dodgers hoped to reach full strength, at least offensively, before the All-Star break as they continue to pursue the San Francisco Giants in the National League West standings. Seager is the reigning NLCS and World Series MVP. His presence in the No. 2 hole, between Mookie Betts and Justin Turner, is invaluable.
Still, the club completed a two-game sweep of the Giants on Wednesday to move within 1.5 games in the standings. As Roberts has said, they’re “holding serve” without the free-agent to be. They’ll have to hold on a bit longer.
MLB could discipline Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer but would need more than allegation
Major League Baseball was made aware of a woman’s assault allegations against Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on Tuesday night. Whether MLB will discipline Bauer depends on what happens next.
MLB can place Bauer on paid administrative leave for up to seven days without an agreement with the players’ association, but that would require more than an allegation, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly. The league would need evidence or corroboration.