Dodgers 5, Nationals 0
LOS ANGELES -- Right fielder Yasiel Puig homered, tripled and tied a career-best with five RBIs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a season-high four-game skid with a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals before 49,384 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night.
Puig went 2-for-4 and drove in five runs for the first time since June 4, 2013, against the San Diego Padres in his second big league game.
Dodgers starter Zack Greinke worked six shutout innings, striking out six while allowing six hits and walking one. Greinke (12-2), unbeaten in his last 10 starts, dropped his major league-leading ERA to 1.65.
Relievers Yimi Garcia worked a pair of scoreless innings and Luis Avilan pitched a perfect ninth for the National League West-leading Dodgers (63-50), who remained 2 1/2 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. The Giants were 3-1 winners over the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
Washington (58-54) is 2 1/2 games back of the first-place New York Mets, who defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-0 earlier Tuesday, in the National League East.
Nationals rookie Joe Ross (3-4) gave up five runs on six hits with a four walks and a strikeout in 4 2/3 innings. The runs and walks were career-highs in eight starts for Ross, who faced Los Angeles for the first time.
After a leadoff triple by left fielder Andre Ethier opened the fourth, Puig followed one batter later with a two-run homer to left off Ross for a 2-0 Los Angeles lead. It was Puig's ninth home run this season. For Ross, it was the first hit for extra bases he has allowed to a right-handed batter all season.
In the fifth, Puig cleared the bases with a three-run triple that right fielder Clint Robinson, subbing for the injured Bryce Harper (sore left knee), was unable to reach. That made it 5-0 for the Dodgers and spelled the end for Ross.
NOTES: Nationals OF Bryce Harper did not play after hurting himself diving for a third-inning triple by Dodgers INF Jose Peraza in Monday's 8-3 win by Washington. Harper played the rest of the game, but his knee swelled considerably overnight, manager Matt Williams said. Harper is listed as day-to-day. ... Dodgers RHP Joel Peralta was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right neck sprain. Peralta said he began feeling discomfort during last week's series in Philadelphia. RHP Yimi Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Peralta. ... Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (8-7, 3.44 ERA) will face Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (9-6, 2.51 ERA) in the series finale Wednesday.