MLB: Washington 11, Los Angeles Dodgers 9

LOS ANGELES, May 8 (UPI) -- Austin Kearns and Nick Johnson keyed a big eighth inning Thursday that rallied Washington past Los Angeles 11-9 and ended a miserable day for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers were struck by the news early Thursday that they had lost slugger Manny Rodriguez to a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's anti-drug policy.

They then blew a six-run lead to the lowly Nationals, had a seven-game winning streak halted and lost at home for the first time this season. Los Angeles had established a major league record by winning 13 home games at the start of a campaign.

Matt Kemp hit a grand slam homer as part of a six-run first inning, but the Dodgers relief corps failed to back up a one-run, six-inning performance by starter Randy Wolf.

Washington closed within 6-4 going into the eighth and then sent 11 men to the plate in that inning. Both Kearns and Johnson had a two-run double as part of a six-run outburst.

Cory Wade (0-2) gave up the go-ahead run in the eighth.

Ron Villone (1-0) got the win by working the seventh inning, Joe Beimel gave up a run in the eighth and left the bases loaded, and Kip Wells allowed two runs in the ninth before finally retiring Casey Blake on a fly ball with two runners on base.

The teams combined for 32 hits. Washington won for only the eighth time this season and for just the third time on the road.