The Los Angeles Dodgers had to an endure a third rain delay in as many games but ended their road trip with a 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals in the rubber match.
Before inclement weather interrupted play for 58 minutes, the Dodgers took an early lead on Jason Heyward’s two-run single with two outs in the first inning.
James Outman added onto it with a leadoff home run in the second and the Dodgers went up 4-0 when David Peralta was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Unfortunately for Peralta, that marked the end of his afternoon due to what the Dodgers have initially deemed a left elbow contusion.
On the pitch before he was hit, Peralta appeared to have some pain in his right hand/wrist as he was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert.
The Nationals didn’t cut into their deficit until the fourth inning when Drew Millas hit a two-run single as a steady drizzle fell.
That wound up being the only runs Ryan Yarbrough allowed in his first start for the Dodgers. Yarbrough pitched four innings and collected five strikeouts, results that were comparable to his appearances as a bulk pitcher out of the bullpen.
Yarbrough was pressed into starting duty partly because the Dodgers provided Clayton Kershaw with an extra day of rest before he next takes the mound.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the fifth inning, only for the game to go into a rain delay. Miguel Rojas hit an RBI single with the bases loaded, and Austin Barnes added a sacrifice fly once play resumed. Rojas finished 4-for-5 to set a new season high in hits and tie his career-best mark.
Kiké Hernández, who entered for Peralta, hit a double to score Freddie Freeman from first base in the seventh inning.
Dodgers rain delays
The three total rain delays during the weekend series between the Dodgers and Nationals totaled 6 hours and 42 minutes.
Only Saturday’s game went into a delay prior to first pitch, which was delayed from 1:05 p.m. PT to 4:15 p.m.
Collective time of games for the series was 9 hours, 26 minutes.
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