Matt Beaty homered and Max Muncy had two doubles and three RBIs as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers completed a four-game series sweep of the Washington Nationals with a 5-1 victory on Sunday.
David Price (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Dodgers, who extended their winning streak to a season-high nine games.
Alcides Escobar had three hits for Washington, which lost all seven meetings against the Dodgers this season.
The Dodgers broke a 1-1 deadlock with two runs in the seventh. Gavin Lux, who had three hits, lined a leadoff double and scored on pinch-hitter Albert Pujols’ one-out single to left field off Joe Ross (5-8).
Tony Gonsolin entered the game as a pinch-runner for Pujols and came around to score on Muncy’s double off Brad Hand, who replaced Ross with two outs. Ross allowed three runs on seven hits with zero walks over 6 2/3 innings. He recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts while throwing 101 pitches.
The Dodgers added to their lead in the ninth when Muncy delivered a two-run double off the centre field wall against Wander Suero.
Los Angeles used eight pitchers after scheduled starter Trevor Bauer was put on administrative leave by Major League Baseball, which is investigating an assault allegation. The Nationals scored first on Starlin Castro’s RBI single off Victor Gonzalez with one out in the third. Castro is 10-for-21 with seven RBIs in his last seven games. Los Angeles responded with Beaty’s leadoff homer in the fourth. R
oss retired the next two batters before allowing a pair of singles. Austin Barnes was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Ross struck out pinch-hitter Steven Souza Jr to end the inning.
Washington played without star shortstop Trea Turner, who sat out his fourth straight game with a left finger injury.
Nationals outfielder Juan Soto went 1-for-3 with a walk, extending his on-base streak to 21 games. Los Angeles out-hit the Nationals 11-8 and moved a season-best 22 games over.500 at 53-31.
Despite losing Buster Posey to a thumb injury, the Giants earned a win against the struggling D-Backs, thanks to a solid 8 2/3 innings from Anthony DeSclafani. Arizona has lost 50 of its past 58 games. DeSclafani earned his ninth win of the season by striking out seven, surrendering two runs and six hits, and walking just two batters.
Posey was shaken up when a foul ball glanced off of his left thumb, taking him out of the game. The team later announced it was a contusion and X-rays were negative. Before going out, Posey scored twice and drove in a run.