Trea Turner had a game-high three RBI in his return to Nationals Park to help the Los Angeles Dodgers start the series with a 10-1 win against the Washington Nationals.
Mookie Betts continued his hot hitting with a leadoff single in the first inning that extended his hitting streak to four games. Freddie Freeman then bounced back from consecutive games without a hit by legging out a hustle double to set the table for Turner.
His groundout drove in a run and the Dodgers scored another on Will Smith’s two-out RBI single. That represented a theme on the night, as L.A. they went on to score four more runs with two outs.
Following a Cody Bellinger walk and stolen base in the fourth inning, Chris Taylor lifted an RBI triple to right field. He was aided in part by Juan Soto mistiming his jump at the wall in right field.
It was the first of two adventures for Soto, who then failed to find Betts’ fly ball that landed in front of him for a two-run double.
Bellinger’s two-out RBI double in the fifth inning chased Nationals starter Joan Adon from the game. Freeman hit a second double of the game in the sixth, driving in a pair to break it open. Turner then collected his first hit of the night with a two-run single that extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
Freeman’s RBI single in the seventh inning put the Dodgers in double digits.
Anderson takes load off Dodgers bullpen
The run support was more than enough for Tyler Anderson.
He didn’t allow a baserunner until César Hernandez’s one-out double in the sixth inning. Alcides Escobar followed with a single, but Anderson induced an inning-ending double play to keep his shutout intact.
The Nationals loaded the bases in the seventh inning but again failed to come away without a run as Freeman made a running catch on a soft liner hit back of first base.
Anderson finished with a season-high eight strikeouts over eight scoreless innings. He received a standing ovation from the Dodgers fans who were in attendance.
Justin Turner appeared to lobby for a second career pitching appearance, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts instead opted for Phil Bickford in the ninth.
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