Chris Taylor hit a two-run double to spark Los Angeles’ four-run sixth inning and the Dodgers went on to defeat the host Washington Nationals 8-5 while dealing with a lengthy rain delay Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
J.D. Martinez, Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez homered for the Dodgers (86-54), who have won consecutive games for the first time this month.
Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 for Los Angeles, with his 53rd double setting a single-season franchise record. Muncy and Hernandez both had two hits.
Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams hit home runs for the Nationals (63-78), who have lost six of seven games on a homestand that has two games remaining.
Alex Vesia (1-5) was the winning pitcher for his first victory since last September. He went 1 2/3 innings in relief of starter Emmet Sheehan, who made it through 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits.
MacKenzie Gore lasted four innings as Washington’s starter, giving up four runs on six hits while yielding three home runs. Robert Garcia (0-2) was the losing pitcher, surrendering two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
There was a rain delay in the top of the seventh inning in a game that already had been slow-moving in stretches. The game resumed after 11 p.m., but neither team recorded a hit the rest of the way.
The Dodgers began the scoring with Martinez’s two-run home run in the first inning for his 26th long ball of the season.
Washington countered in the bottom of the inning with Ruiz’s three-run shot for his 17th of the season.
Muncy with his 33rd home run and Hernandez with his ninth gave the Dodgers the lead with solo shots in the fourth inning. Abrams smashed his 16th for a two-run long ball to put Washington on top at 5-4 through five innings.
The Dodgers had hits against three different Nationals relievers in the sixth inning, and paired with three walks and a sacrifice fly gave Los Angeles the 8-5 lead.
—Field Level Media
