Dodgers at Nationals
The Los Angeles Dodgers erupted for 76 runs en route to winning seven of nine games before encountering a speed bump in the form of consecutive one-run losses to the Los Angeles Angels during the Freeway Series. The Dodgers look to get back up to speed Friday when they begin a six-game road trip with the opener of a three-game set against the Washington Nationals.
Justin Turner went deep for the fifth time in 13 games Wednesday after a solo homer highlighted his three-hit performance in a 3-2 setback to the Angels. The 34-year-old hit safely in all three contests that he played during the teams' four-game set in Washington, including launching a two-run homer in a 5-2 loss May 11. While the Dodgers enjoy a comfortable lead atop the National League West, Washington had won 13 of its previous 16 home games and was on the verge of winning another before it failed to hold a one-run lead in an 8-7 loss to Colorado on Thursday. Anthony Rendon belted his team-leading 22nd homer and second in three games heading into Friday's tilt versus left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, against whom he is 2-for-8 with a solo homer.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (11-2, 1.76 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Anibal Sanchez (6-6, 3.80)
Ryu has turned the corner from a disastrous start at Colorado on June 28, improving to 2-0 in his last three outings after allowing one run on four hits in seven innings of a 2-1 victory against Miami. The 32-year-old South Korean aims to dominate the Nationals for the second time this season after carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 6-0 romp on May 12. Gerardo Parra doubled with one out in the eighth for the lone hit allowed by Ryu, who tossed a career-high 116 pitches - 79 for strikes.
Sanchez improved to 6-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his last nine starts after permitting three runs on six hits in five innings of a 5-3 victory at Atlanta on Saturday. The 35-year-old Venezuelan has surrendered one homer in each of his last eight games overall heading into a tilt with Joc Pederson, who has gone deep twice among his three career hits versus the hurler. Sanchez fell to 1-3 with a 3.89 ERA in eight career encounters against the Dodgers after yielding three runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-0 setback on May 10.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles RF Cody Bellinger went 7-for-13 with three runs scored as the team split its four-game series versus Washington from May 9-12.
2. Nationals 1B Howie Kendrick, who is mired in an 0-for-16 slump, homered and drove in four runs in a 6-0 victory over the Dodgers on May 9.
3. Los Angeles acquired 1B Tyler White from Houston on Thursday in exchange for minor league RHP Andre Scrubb.