Joe Ross knocked out in fifth, Nats lose 5-0

Rookie Joe Ross is battling control issues for the first time in the big leagues. The right-hander entered tonight's game with just four walks in his seven starts in the majors. He had never walked more than one in a game.

Tonight, Ross issued back-to-back walks to Andre Ethier and Yasmani Grandal to start the second. But Ross settled down and retired the next three Dodgers in order in escape the early jam.

Ross wasn't as lucky in the fourth. Ethier lifted a changeup to the gap in left-center field. Michael A. Taylor broke in initially and lost a beat on the ball that one-hopped off the wall and then over Taylor's head. As Ethier chugged for third, Taylor recovered and fired a laser to Yunel Escobar. Ethier was initially called out, but replays showed Escobar missed the tag and the ruling was reversed.

Two batters later, Yasiel Puig mashed a hanging slider from Ross deep into the stands in left-center field for a two-run homer. Joc Pederson then drew another walk, Ross' third of the game.

Ross has allowed two runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout through four innings.

The Nationals have five hits off Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke but nothing to show for them. Their best chance came with runners on first and second with two out in the second when Taylor scorched a liner that Dodgers third baseman Alberto Callaspo made a diving stab on to end the frame. The Nationals have left six men on base.

Update: Jimmy Rollins and Callaspo began the fifth with consecutive singles. After getting Adrian Gonzalez and Ethier to fly out, Ross walked Grandal to load the bases.

Puig then flared a ball to right that Clint Robinson tried to make a sliding backhanded catch on. But the ball fell and skipped away, allowing all three runners to score on the bases-clearing triple.

That ended the toughest outing of Ross' young career. He surrendered five runs on six hits with four walks and one strikeout over 4 2/3 innings. Ross threw 89 pitches.

Update II: Blake Treinen, Felipe Rivero and Tanner Roark combined to pitch 3 1/3 no-hit innings of scoreless relief.

The Dodgers beat the Nationals 5-0. The Nats have fallen 2 1/2 games behind the Mets in the National League East.