An uphill climb in L.A. (Nats lose 3-2)

Adam LaRoche is doing his best to keep the Nationals in this one, but they've still got some work to do. The Nats trail 3-2 as we go to seventh, thanks to a solid outing by Ross Detwiler and the one guy who has provided consistent offense for this team in 2012 - LaRoche. The first baseman's two-run homer in the sixth inning has gotten the Nats back to within a run, but with Clayton Kershaw still on the hill, they'll have to battle it out against the tough lefty to try and even this game up. LaRoche now has three homers and 16 RBIs on the season, leading the Nationals in both categories. Yet again, I'm left wondering where the Nats would be without him. Detwiler led the majors in ERA entering tonight. He won't sit atop the league in ERA exiting the game, thanks to the three runs he surrendered over his six innings of work, but he still turned in a quality start and kept his team in it. Still, having to come from three runs down is not the strength of this ballclub. LaRoche's big fly got the Nats close, but they've got more work left to do. UPDATE: Danny Espinosa threw out a runner at the plate in the bottom of the eighth, and he nearly tied the game in the top of the ninth, but his would-be home run turned just foul, and the Nats lost to the Dodgers 3-2. This drops the Nats' record to 14-6. After Espinosa was retired in the ninth, Chad Tracy was hit by a pitch on the upper arm, and Edwin Jackson pinch ran. The go-ahead run stood at the plate in the form of Jesus Flores, but Flores struck out to end the game. Stephen Strasburg will take the mound tomorrow night, and Bryce Harper will play left field. Should be a fun night to be a Nats fan.