WASHINGTON (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t so blue anymore.
Alex Wood threw six shutout innings, Corey Seager hit a three-run homer during a five-run second and the Dodgers’ rebound continued with a 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Wood (15-3) allowed three hits with eight strikeouts and one walk for Los Angeles, which has won three in a row after losing 11 consecutive games and 16 of 17. The Dodgers lowered their magic number to clinch the NL West to six. They also took another step toward feeling like the monster team that sat 55 games over .500 on Aug. 25.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood (57) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
“We got challenged, we got beat up over there for a couple of weeks,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It was nice for us to come into this environment against a club like that and to play well.”
The teams entered the highly anticipated three-game series having clinched playoff berths and owning the top two records in the National League.
Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig homered in the Dodgers’ first Washington appearance since winning Game 5 of the NL Division Series last October.
Los Angeles starting pitchers have allowed one earned run over 19 innings during the winning streak.
“In those 11 games, things didn’t seem to work out,” Puig said. “The pitchers are (now) getting outs in the precise moments and we’re getting hits in the precise moments.”
The NL East champion Nationals fell six games back of Los Angeles in the chase for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
“It’s kind of like recon,” Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth said of the potential playoff preview. “Good to see these guys if you do play them. … Outside chance we can get home field advantage throughout.”
Relievers Pedro Baez and Brock Stewart kept the shutout intact against the NL’s top-scoring team.
The Dodgers scored all seven runs over the first three innings against Edwin Jackson (5-6).
Turner hit his 20th homer of the season in the first. Los Angeles battered Jackson for four extra-base hits in the second, starting with Puig’s solo homer and ending with Seager’s 3-run blast to center.
Andre Ethier was credited with a RBI ground-rule double in the second. His fly ball bounced into the stands after Werth lost track of its flight. Chase Utley had a run-scoring groundout in the third.
Jackson only lasted 2 1/3 innings, surrendering seven runs and six hits in his third consecutive loss.
“They didn’t miss any fastball that I threw,” Jackson said. “They were able to put it in play and get big hits off of it.”
Wood also entered with back-to-back losses as his breakout season took a wrong turn during the Dodgers’ slide. The All-Star left-hander had allowed nine runs in 11 innings over his previous two starts.
Wood struck out All-Star Daniel Murphy three times, including in the third with two outs and two runners on.
“I felt good about tonight,” Wood said. “Those bats came alive early. I just wanted to put zeroes after we scored all those runs.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Ethier (back) went 2 for 4 with a RBI in his fourth start since being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 1 and 11th appearance on the season.
Nationals: C Jose Lobaton is expected to rest a couple days after getting hit in the ankle by a pitch in the second inning of Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Braves, manager Dusty Baker said.
WELCOME BACK
It’s almost been a year since the Dodgers visited Nationals Park, but the memories of their 2016 NLDS victory remain fresh. “I did think about it today,” said Turner, whose triple drove in the go-ahead runs in the Game 5 win. “The last time we were here … was celebrating one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of in my entire career.”
ZEROES
The Nationals have been shut out seven times this season. Two came this week, including Tuesday’s 8-0 loss to the Braves.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (9-8, 3.67 ERA), who hasn’t faced Washington since 2012 when he worked in relief for the Red Sox, has lost four consecutive starts.
Nationals: RHP A.J. Cole (2-4, 4.30) is scheduled for his seventh start of the season and first since Sept. 4.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Justin Turner eyes the ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Turner hit a home run. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Los Angeles Dodgers Chase Utley (26) swing and hits the ball during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Utley reached second on fielder’s choice. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) talks to relief pitcher Sammy Solis (36) and catcher Matt Wieters (32) after relieving starting pitcher Edwin Jackson who surrendered seven runs during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Edwin Jackson (40) leaves the field after being taken out of the game by head coach Dusty Baker (12) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Edwin Jackson (40) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Los Angeles Dodgers Cody Bellinger (35) avoids getting hit by a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Bellinger struck out swinging. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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