An expected pitcher’s duel between Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer lived up to its billing, with the Los Angeles Dodgers scratching out a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals behind a misread in the outfield.
The Dodgers, at 8-2, sport the best record in baseball, have won all three series thus far and have their first sweep of the year. Conversely, the Nationals are mired in a five-game losing streak.
Scherzer held the Dodgers to just xx hits, yet was tabbed for the loss. With two outs and Max Muncy on first base, Zach McKinstry lifted a fly ball to deep left-center field. Victor Robles started in, then retreated and appeared to have a read until late.
The ball dropped in front of the wall for an RBI double, giving McKinstry an eighth RBI of the season. That left him one shy of tying Justin Turner for the team lead, though McKinstry then moved ahead with a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
Scherzer retired 10 in a row after the sun double, which was a streak that came to an end on Matt Beaty’s leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. Scherzer then had some good fortune on his side as Gavin Lux then lined out to Ryan Zimmerman for a double play.
That loomed large as Corey Seager followed with a double before Scherzer could get through the sixth inning.
As Scherzer was keeping the Dodgers at bay, Kershaw matched that effort to also log six innings. Trea Turner had three of the Nationals’ five hits off Kershaw, including a swinging bunt to lead off the sixth.
Turner then moved into scoring position on a pitch in the dirt, putting Kershaw in his most stressful situation of the afternoon. He struck out Juan Soto, retired Ryan Zimmerman and got Jordy Mercer swinging. Escaping the jam prompted Kershaw to let out a celebratory scream when Mercer swung over the top of a slider.
The Dodgers bullpen wasn’t perfect, but they followed Kershaw with more scoreless work. Corey Knebel retired the Nationals in order in the seventh, but Blake Treinen faced two on with nobody out in the eighth inning.
After retiring Trea Turner, the game may have been decided when Soto flied out to center field on a 3-0 pitch.
Kenley Jansen closed the game out with his velocity at 94-95 mph in a dominant showing.
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