Clayton Kershaw wins 3rd straight as Dodgers beat Nationals

LOS ANGELES — Wrung out from spent emotions and bruised from wayward pitches a day earlier, the Dodgers still found the strength for a Friday night rally.

Winning three of four games from the San Diego Padres during the week, in a tension-filled series that closed with a benches-clearing incident, came with a price.

Outside of the physical challenges in a series opener against the Washington Nationals, was a day without Manager Dave Roberts, who was suspended one game for his on-field clash with Padres manager Mike Shildt on Thursday night when finger pointing was the chosen form of aggression.

When the Dodgers did get going Friday, Miguel Rojas hit a two-run home run in just his seventh start at third base this season and Clayton Kershaw went five innings while inching closer to 3,000 strikeouts in a 6-5 victory.

“Yeah, we talked about it,” Rojas said about moving on from the Padres to the Nationals, who ended an 11-game losing streak on Thursday. “It’s a real thing when you play games against division teams, and obviously the whole month we (were) playing against teams at the top of their divisions and on the top of the game.”

Leaving nothing to chance, the team openly talked about maintaining its intensity.

“I feel like we had a really good conversation between the hitters (about) not letting our guard down, especially with this series coming up,” Rojas said. “No offense on the teams that we’re playing, but we know we’re coming from a series that was all out. It felt like a playoff (series) and we need to continue to get wins, because we’re gonna need them.”

Kershaw (3-0) went five innings to win his third consecutive start. He gave up a pair of solo home runs among the five hits he allowed, while his four strikeouts moved him eight from becoming just the 20th MLB pitcher to reach the 3,000 mark. Only three other left-handers are on the list.

In his seventh start of the season, to match his total from 2024, Kershaw’s four-seam fastball never went above 89.4 mph, but he used location to limit the damage. When Amed Rosario and Riley Adams got to him for home runs, they were merely solo shots.

“Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t super clean tonight, but they hit some homers,” Kershaw said. “But, you know, kind of a team win tonight. Bullpen did great. Got some big, big knocks, big offense for us. So, yeah, it wasn’t special by any means. But a win’s a win.”

Kershaw has now earned the win in three consecutive starts for the first time since April of 2023 but is far from content with how he feels on the mound.

“Yeah, it’s weird. I mean, the last couple starts, even against the Giants (seven scoreless innings), I felt like it wasn’t quite as good as the one before that,” Kershaw said. “So just trying to figure out how to be a little bit more consistent. I’m just trying to work through that a little bit. But overall, I think I have enough to get some guys out. And thankfully, it’s working out right now.”

Kershaw’s next chance for 3,000 strikeouts could come at the end of next week’s series at Colorado or next weekend’s visit to Kansas City.

“It’s hard not to appreciate how close he is to the 3,000 mark,” manager Dave Roberts said before serving his suspension. “My guess is that he just wants to get this thing over with as soon as possible, right? He doesn’t like making things about him. This is something that we’re all excited about. He wants it over as quick as possible, I’m sure.”

The Dodgers rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the third inning with a little help from the Nationals. Kiké Hernandez led off with a double and advanced to third on a Rojas ground out. Ohtani walked and Mookie Betts appeared to hit into a double play but beat out the throw to first for a 1-0 lead.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a ball up the middle that was stopped by Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, but he was unable to record a force out at second base, allowing Betts to score the go-ahead run. Andy Pages added the third run in the inning on a single.

The Dodgers made it 4-1 in the fourth inning when Ohtani singled to right field to score Rojas. After he was hit by pitches twice in the series against the Padres, Ohtani did not swing at the first 10 pitches he saw Friday. His first two trips to the plate ended in walks, while his third was the RBI single on his first swing of the game.

The Nationals pulled a run back in the fifth inning on Adams’ home run before Rojas hit a two-run home run in the sixth to chase Gore. It was just his third home run of the season, and it came in just his sixth start at third base.

“Just kind of staying true to myself and continue to work every single day,” Rojas said. “I know it’s a long season, and you’re going to receive more opportunities to contribute, and it’s nice to finally get one game like this where you feel part of it. And not just defensively but doing what you’re supposed to do against left-handed pitching. That’s what I’m here for.”

The Nationals scored twice in the seventh inning on a double from Luis Garcia Jr. but left fielder Michael Conforto prevented further damage with a diving catch on a sinking line drive from Nathaniel Lowe with two runners in scoring position.

Left-hander Tanner Scott pitched the ninth inning for his 15th save, giving up his first earned run in nine outings when Abrams hit a home run.