Los Angeles Dodgers starter Rich Hill delivers a pitch during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI |
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WASHINGTON -- Rich Hill allowed just one hit and one run in five innings and combined with five relievers on a four-hitter and rookie Cody Bellinger was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Saturday.
The Nationals cut the lead to 3-2 with an RBI single by Trea Turner with one out in the eighth off Tony Watson. But the lefty reliever retired the next two batters to end the threat, as Yasiel Puig made a diving catch in right to rob Daniel Murphy of a possible RBI hit for the final out with two runners on base.
Closer Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 38th save as he retired all three batters he faced.
The Dodgers (96-52), who have won four in a row after losing 11 straight, entered the game with a magic number of six to clinch the National League West. The Nationals (89-59) have lost four of five since clinching the National League East title Sept. 10.
Bellinger gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead as he led off the second with a solo homer to right off starter A.J. Cole (2-5), who lost for the fifth time in his last six starts. Bellinger tied a National League rookie record with his 38th homer.
In the third, Chase Utley (2-for-4) doubled with two outs and came around to score on an RBI single by Bellinger to make it 2-0.
Anthony Rendon (2-for-2, walk) pulled Washington to within 2-1 with a solo homer with two outs in the fourth into the bullpen in left. It was the first run in 15 innings for the Nationals and the 24th homer of the year for Rendon.
But Justin Turner had a sacrifice fly in the fifth to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
Hill threw just 74 pitches and struck out seven with two walks. He had lost his last four starts, beginning with the game when he had a no-hitter going into the 10th inning in Pittsburgh on Aug. 23. It was the first regular-season start for Hill at Nationals Park since 2009 when he played for the Baltimore Orioles.
Cole gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Oliver Perez came on with two on and no outs in the sixth and retired three batters in a row to escape the jam for the Nationals.
The Dodgers are 23-6 against the National League East this year and will go for the three-game sweep Sunday.
NOTES: Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (13-4, 2.64 ERA), who has not allowed a run in 34 innings, will face Dodgers LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-7, 3.59) in the series finale Sunday night. ... Former Dodgers ace and broadcaster Orel Hershiser turned 59 Saturday. ... Dodgers 1B Cody Bellinger tied a National League record Saturday for homers (38) by a rookie that is also held by Wally Berger (1930) of the Boston Braves and Frank Robinson (1956) of the Cincinnati Reds. ... Dodgers LHP Rich Hill, the Saturday starter, pitched in 25 games for Triple-A Syracuse of the Washington system in 2015 before he was released.
