Nationals 8, Dodgers 3
LOS ANGELES -- Shortstop Ian Desmond homered twice and Gio Gonzalez tossed eight shutout innings, sparking the Washington Nationals to an 8-3 romp over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 45,722 at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
Gonzalez scattered seven hits with six strikeouts and a walk on 117 pitches (76 strikes) as the Nationals (58-53) handed the Dodgers (62-50) their first four-game losing streak of the season. The win kept Washington 1 1/2 games back of the National League East-leading New York Mets, while the Dodgers lead in the NL West dwindled to 2 1/2 games over the idle San Francisco Giants.
Desmond, who went deep in the second and eighth innings, recorded his second multi-home run game and first one since 2010, when he did so against the Florida Marlins. Desmond went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
A five-run uprising in the sixth inning by Washington doomed Los Angeles.
An RBI single by first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, a two-run double by left fielder Jayson Werth and a run-scoring base hit by center fielder Michael Taylor, who also had three hits, highlighted the sixth and chased Dodgers starter Brett Anderson, who allowed seven consecutive batters, six of those on hits, to reach. Third baseman Yunel Escobar added a RBI groundout to cap the scoring in the inning.
Anderson lasted five-plus innings, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits with three walks and a strikeout. It was the first time Anderson (6-7) faced the Nationals.
Washington right fielder Bryce Harper, who was 1-for-4, extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a sixth-inning single.
Pinch-hitter Carl Crawford hit a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth to ruin the shutout. Crawford has two homers this year.
The National took the lead in the second inning. Zimmerman led off the inning with a double, Desmond homered one batter later, driving a 1-0 Anderson pitch into the seats in left for a 2-0 Washington lead. It was Desmond's 13th home run this season.
Dodgers second baseman Jose Peraza, who made his major-league debut Monday, replacing the injured Howie Kendrick, had a two-out triple in the third for his first big-league hit. However, Peraza was left stranded at third when Gonzalez struck out right fielder Yasiel Puig to end the inning.
NOTES: Dodgers 2B Howie Kendrick was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Kendrick sustained the injury Sunday at Pittsburgh. INF Jose Peraza, who was obtained from the Atlanta Braves in a multi-player deal July 30, was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Kendrick on the roster and started at second base. The 21-year-old became the youngest Dodgers position player to debut since 19-year-old 3B Adrian Beltre in 1998. ... Monday's starters, Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez and Dodgers LHP Brett Anderson, were teammates from 2009 through 2011 with the Oakland A's. ... Nationals RHP Joe Ross (3-3, 2.80 ERA) will face Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke (11-2, 1.71 ERA) in the second game of the three-game series Tuesday. ... Los Angeles RHP Carlos Frias had his option voided, and he was placed back on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 2, due to lower back tightness.