Puig's 5 RBIs Help Greinke, Dodgers Beat Nationals, 5-0
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yasiel Puig drove in a career high-tying five runs with a homer and a triple, Zack Greinke pitched six sharp innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals, 5-0, Tuesday night to snap a season-worst four-game skid.
Greinke (12-2) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked four to remain unbeaten in his last 10 starts, going 7-0 in that span. He lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.65.
Puig homered into the left-field pavilion in the fourth to score Andre Ethier, whose leadoff triple stood up after the Dodgers challenged the call. Replays showed third baseman Yunel Escobar didn't tag Ethier's leg before he reached the bag.
Puig struggled Monday in the Dodgers' 8-3 loss in the series opener, going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. In his first at-bat against rookie Joe Ross, he flied out to center with two runners on in the second.
Puig extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth with a bases-loaded triple that right fielder Clint Robinson misplayed. It scored Jimmy Rollins and Alberto Callaspo, who reached on singles, and Yasmani Grandal, who walked. That chased Ross (3-4), who gave up five runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings. He walked four and struck out one.
It was Puig's second five-RBI game, equaling his performance on June 14, 2013, in his second major league game.
Greinke bounced back from a struggle in his last start at Philadelphia, where he allowed five runs before retiring a batter but eventually earned the victory.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: OF Bryce Harper was held out of the lineup with a sore left knee. He hurt it while making a sliding catch Monday and it swelled up overnight, limiting his mobility.
Dodgers: RHP Joel Peralta went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, with a right neck sprain. He has appeared in 25 games this season, going 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA and three saves. "I can't finish my pitches and the release point is an issue," Peralta said. "I haven't been able to command the fastball and the split-finger." ... INF Justin Turner, on the 15-day DL with a skin infection on his right thigh, returned to Los Angeles from Arizona, where he took live batting practice. The team hopes he will be back in the lineup by this weekend.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (8-7, 3.44 ERA) was 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 2013 and 2014 at Dodger Stadium. He never allowed more than two earned runs and pitched into at least the seventh inning every time.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (9-6, 2.51) had his 37-inning scoreless streak snapped in the first inning of his last start against Pittsburgh. He is 8-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 12 career games against the Nationals.
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