The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a sweep of the Washington Nationals with a 6-5 victory, but took an unconventional path to get there, first taking an early lead before having to come back late in the game.
The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead when Shohei Ohtani singled to start the game, Mookie Betts worked a walk and Tommy Edman doubled them home. Teoscar Hernández then blasted a two-run homer to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead before they recorded their first out.
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The first inning proved to be a productive one for both offenses as the Nationals rallied for three runs against Landon Knack, who was making a spot start to keep the rest of the rotation on their normal schedules.
CJ Abrams greeted Knack with a leadoff home run, and the right-hander struggled with his control throughout the inning. Knack walked two of the next three hitters he faced while allowing a single between them.
A ground out and sacrifice fly drove in two more runs for the Nationals to make it a 4-3 game before Knack escaped the inning after 41 pitches.
Nationals starter Cole Irvin settled in after his rough first inning, allowing only three baserunners over the next five innings and holding the Dodgers off the board.
Knack, however, was unable to get out of the third inning after allowing a walk, single and double that tied the game. Jack Dreyer entered and allowed a sacrifice fly that gave the Nationals the lead.
Once Irvin was out of the game, the Dodgers re-took the lead quickly. Andy Pages greeted Eduardo Salazar with a solo home run that tied the game, and after Ohtani singled and stole second base, he scored on a single from Hernández.
Dodgers bullpen shuts down Nationals
The Dodgers’ bullpen once again was a strong point for the team and helped carry them to the win. Beginning with Dreyer, the unit combined for 6.2 shutout innings, with Dreyer responsible for 1.2 of those innings.
Anthony Banda, Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia each worked a scoreless frame before Blake Treinen recorded the save. Prior to Treinen, the relievers did not allow a hit.
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