The Los Angeles Dodgers went into their series with the Washington Nationals on a modest two-game winning streak and looking to further distance themselves from an 11-game skid. Enthusiasm over success against the San Francisco Giants was tempered, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he didn’t believe his team was out of the woods just yet.
While that may still hold true, Friday’s game at Nationals Park was another step in the right direction. Justin Turner hit a two-out home run in the first inning to provide Alex Wood and the Dodgers with an early lead.
They erupted for five runs in the second and went on for a 7-0 rout of the Nationals. Yasiel Puig led off the inning with an opposite-field solo home run, and Chase Utley followed with a double to the right-center field gap.
After striking out Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Jackson was let down by his defense. Andre Ethier lifted a fly ball to right field that Jayson Werth never tracked but put forth a tremendous deke.
It caused Utley to retreat to second base in preparation to tag, but he easily scored as the ball bounced on the warning track and into the stands for an RBI ground-rule double.
Jackson walked Chris Taylor to put two on with two outs, which prompted a mound visit from Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux. Jackson’s first-pitch fastball to Corey Seager was crushed to straightaway center field for a three-run home run.
The homer was Seager’s 20th this season, but first since Aug. 5. The Dodgers now have four players — Cody Bellinger (37), Puig (26), Seager (20) and Turner (20) with at least 20 home runs this season. Grandal and Taylor, at 19 apiece, are on the doorstep of joining the group.
