Los Angeles Dodgers vs Washington Nationals Match Player Stats On Jul 26, 2019

Justin Turner belted a tie-breaking three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-2 win against the Washington Nationals in the opener of their three-game series on Friday night.

The Nationals retired the first two batters in the eighth before Joc Pederson walked and Alex Verdugo singled off reliever Tony Sipp (1-2). Turner then lifted a 3-1 fastball over the fence in left center off Kyle Barraclough for a 4-1 lead.

Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu came in leading the majors with a 1.76 ERA. He allowed one run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, lowering that mark to 1.74. Ryu struck out four and walked one.

Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly (4-3) got the final out of the seventh inning to earn the victory. Kenley Jansen loaded the bases and walked in a run in the ninth before getting the final out for his 25th save.

Verdugo had two hits for Los Angeles.

Washington starter Anibal Sanchez gave up a run in the first before retiring 20 consecutive batters. He went seven innings, allowing one run and three hits while striking out six and walking one.

Kurt Suzuki and Brian Dozier had two hits each for Washington.

The Dodgers took the 1-0 lead after Pederson and Verdugo opened the game with opposite-field singles. Sanchez struck out Turner, but Cody Bellinger followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Pederson.

Los Angeles loaded the bases with one out in the inning, but A.J. Pollock tapped back to the mound on a 3-0 pitch, helping Sanchez escape the inning without further damage.

The Nationals strung together back-to-back two-out singles in the second, but Ryu avoided further trouble by getting a pop out to short to end the inning.

Anthony Rendon led off the fourth with a double for Washington, but was left at second base.

After stranding two more runners in the sixth, the Nationals tied the score with a run in the seventh.

Dozier led off with a single and Victor Robles followed with a perfectly placed bunt single up the third-base line. Ryu nearly got out of that jam as well, but he gave up a two-out RBI single to Adam Eaton to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.

--Field Level Media