Clayton Kershaw continued his strong return to the mound with his third straight victory as the Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Washington Nationals 6-5 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Miguel Rojas provided key run support with a two-run home run, and the Dodgers improved to 6-2 on their current homestand while winning for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Kershaw, in his third start since rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation, worked through five challenging innings. The veteran left-hander allowed five hits, including solo home runs by Amed Rosario and Riley Adams, but limited the damage in key moments. Despite being pressured throughout, he kept Washington from mounting a big inning and left with a 6-3 lead.
Los Angeles took control early with a three-run third inning. Kiké Hernández opened the frame with a double and later scored on a fielder’s choice after Mookie Betts beat out a potential double play. Betts scored when CJ Abrams threw wide of first base on the same play, allowing an extra run to score. Andy Pages then singled to bring in another run.
In the sixth, Rojas extended the Dodgers’ lead with a two-run home run that chased Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore from the game. Gore was charged with six runs, five of them earned, on seven hits and four walks over five-plus innings. He took the loss and dropped to 3-7 on the season, with just one win in his last 11 starts.
The Nationals mounted a comeback in the seventh inning when pinch-hitter Luis García Jr. delivered a two-run double with the bases loaded, trimming the deficit to 6-5. Washington had a chance to tie or take the lead later in the inning, but Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto made a full-extension diving catch on Nathaniel Lowe’s tailing fly ball to end the threat.
Tanner Scott was called on to close the game in the ninth and surrendered a solo home run to Abrams, bringing Washington within a run. He recovered to retire the next two batters, earning his 15th save of the season and securing the win for Los Angeles.
Bench coach Danny Lehmann served as acting manager for the Dodgers after manager Dave Roberts was suspended for one game due to an ejection in the previous contest against San Diego. The team did not appear to miss a step under Lehmann’s guidance.
Washington, which ended an 11-game losing streak on Thursday, opened its nine-game road trip through Southern California with another setback. The Nationals fell to 3-15 in June and continue to struggle despite brief flashes of offense.
The Dodgers will send right-hander Dustin May (4-4, 4.46 ERA) to the mound on Saturday, while the Nationals counter with Jake Irvin (5-2, 4.23 ERA). According to current betting odds, the Dodgers are favored at -175 for Saturday’s matchup, while the Nationals are listed as +150 underdogs. The over/under for total runs is set at 9.
