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LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw continued his season for the ages, dominating the Nationals in the Dodgers' 4-1 win on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw allowed only one run on three hits in eight innings of work, with two walks. None of them reached as far as second base until Bryce Harper unloaded for a home run into the right field pavilion in the seventh inning.
Kershaw lasted eight innings for a fifth consecutive start, the first Dodgers pitcher to do so since Odalis Perez in 2002. The longest streak before that was Hideo Nomo, with six straight starts in 1995.
Kershaw also struck out eight, giving him 202 on the season, his fifth straight with at least 200 strikeouts.
How the Dodgers scored in the fifth inning is still a mystery. All I know is Yasiel Puig didn't start the game but he inspired the base running choices that inning, with extra bases being taken with impunity, helped along by offline if not straight wild throws by Washington.
Perhaps the fifth inning is best described like so: The two runs were scored on an infield single by Adrian Gonzalez.
Juan Uribe tapped into the previously unused well of Dodgers power with a two-run home run in the sixth inning, jazz hands and all, putting the Dodgers up 4-0 and ending the competitive phase of the game.
Kershaw improved to 17-3 on the season, in 23 starts. The last Dodgers pitcher to be 17-3 at any point in the season was Orel Hershiser, who finished 19-3 in 1985.
Up next
The Dodgers go for the series win with a quick turnaround on a getaway day for Washington. The 12:10 p.m. PT start will feature Carlos Frias on the mound for the Dodgers, with Jordan Zimmermann pitching for the Nationals.
Tuesday particulars
Home runs: Juan Uribe (7), Bryce Harper (11)
WP - Clayton Kershaw (17-3): 8 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
LP - Doug Fister (12-6): 5 IP, 10 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Sv - Kenley Jansen (39): 1 IP, 3 strikeouts