Turners make impact in series finale (Strasburg suffers first loss 6-3)

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 21, 2016, 9:06am

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Justin Turner crushed a two-run shot off Stephen Strasburg to get the Dodgers on the board 2-0 in the first.

The Nationals version of Turner was not to be outdone.

Trea Turner and Michael A. Taylor singled to start the bottom of the first. Trea and Taylor pulled off a double steal. The Dodgers disputed the safe call at third, but the call was upheld.

One batter later, Bryce Harper launched a sacrifice fly to left. The Dodgers led 2-1.

Wilson Ramos' single in the second continued a nine-game hit streak. Strasburg also singled in the inning.

The Dodgers led 2-1 heading to the third.

In the third, Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez singled in a row, and the Dodgers led 3-1.

Justin Turner made a day of it in the his next at-bat, slamming a 3-0 pitch over the left-center field wall and suddenly the Dodgers lead 6-1. It was his 17th homer of the season. He has two homers and five RBIs in two at-bats.

Update: Strasburg goes six innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, including two homers, with one walk and 10 strikeouts. It was the eighth time this season Strasburg has reached double-digit strikeouts. Strasburg has not allowed more than four runs in a start the entire season until today.

Update II: The Nationals notched single runs in the sixth and seventh frames. Danny Espinosa hit an RBI double and Daniel Murphy added an RBI single. The Dodgers lead 6-3 after seven innings.

Update III: The Dodgers hand Strasburg his first loss of the season 6-3. The Nationals leave 12 men on base. It marks the Nationals' seventh loss in the past eight games against the Dodgers.