Dodgers 6 Nats 3: Justin Turner Overdrive

The Dodgers took the finale thanks to two monster homers out by JT.

The Dodgers got off to a surprisingly fast start against Stephen Strasburg, who I probably would have put money on throwing a no-hitter today. After two easy outs, Adrian Gonzalez doubled and Justin Turner unloaded a homer to make it 2-0.

Unfortunately, Julio Urias did not exactly throw a shutdown inning. Trea Turner led off with an infield single (he is fast) and Michael Taylor singled to left. Urias got Daniel Murphy to pop out, but the two runners executed a double steal, which was cashed in on a sac fly by Bryce Harper. All things considered, giving up one run was probably best case for Urias, but he needed 27 pitches to do so and with his pitch count, it didn’t bode well for him going deep into the game.

The Dodgers got to Strasburg again in the third, which started with back to back singles by Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick (13 game hitting streak). Gonzalez followed that up with an RBI single, and Turner hit a 3-0 pitch out for his second homer of the game and a 6-1 lead.

Meanwhile, Urias kept the Nats off the board for the rest of his outing. He only went four innings due to an elevated pitch count early on, but Urias looked great after the first and got the run support he needed. He didn’t go long enough to get a decision, but it was a solid four innings. 77 pitches wasn’t great for only four innings, but he did a good job while he was in, and it makes sense that the Dodgers didn’t let him go any farther than that.

The rest of the game was decidedly less fun. Dave Roberts channeled his inner-Bruce Bochy and used five pitchers to get the next six outs, and Louis Coleman gave up a second run on a double by Danny Espinosa. Joe Blanton got the final out of the sixth inning and came in in a double-switch, bringing Yasiel Puig into the game. Puig was robbed on a nice diving play by Anthony Rendon, and came up limping as he ran to first. He was taken out of the game for Scott Van Slyke, and per Alanna Rizzo, he left the game with right hamstring tightness. Let’s hope it’s minor/keeps him from being traded in the next two weeks.

Blanton continued on to the seventh inning and issued a walk, steal and single to make it 6-3. He got out of the jam to hold the lead. Adam Liberatore gave up a double but tossed a scoreless eighth, and Kenley Jansen allowed a runner to reach third, but closed it out.

In all, this was probably the worst the bullpen has looked in a while. The offense went silent after the loud first three innings, but the Dodgers took the finale and now have a happy flight to St. Louis. They took five of six games from the Nationals this season, and they won’t square off again in the regular season. They currently sit four games behind the Giants, who open up a series tomorrow against the Yankees. The Dodgers are 54-43, so that’s pretty good considering all the injuries and the terrible April. The Dodgers also handed Strasburg his first loss, so while win/loss records are dumb, that’s always fun.

Next: The Importance of Howie Kendrick

The Dodgers return to action tomorrow against the Cardinals with Brandon McCarthy on the hill.