Washington Nationals shut out by Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0 in LA...

A night after Washington’s Nationals shut out Los Angeles in the series opener, the Dodgers returned the favor with starter Kenta Maeda limiting Nats’ hitters to a hit and two walks over six scoreless innings on the mound in what ended up a 5-0 win in Dodger Stadium.

Sánchez vs Los Angeles: Aníbal Sánchez took the mound in LA’s Dodger Stadium winless in seven starts for the Nationals (0-5), after signing a 2-year/$19M free agent deal this winter.

Sánchez wrapped up a 4 ²⁄₃-inning outing against the Phillies last week with a 5.15 ERA, 22 walks, 36 Ks, and a .258/.351/.430 line against in 36 ²⁄₃ IP this season.

He fell behind early tonight when Joc Pederson hit a 3-2 changeup out to right-center for a solo homer in the first at bat of the bottom of the first inning, 1-0. No. 11 for Pederson.

Sánchez retired six in a row after a leadoff double by Alex Verdugo in the first at bat of the LA second, but the Dodgers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Verdugo scored from first on a two-out fly to short right by Chris Taylor on which right fielder Adam Eaton’s diving attempt came up short, 2-0.

Pederson hit a 2-1 sinker out to right in the first at bat of the Dodgers’ fifth, connecting for his second home run of the game and 12th of the season, 3-0.

Sánchez was lifted with one down in the fifth, after Max Muncy singled and Cody Bellinger K’d swinging on the righty’s 89th and final pitch.

Aníbal Sánchez’s Line: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 2 HRs, 89 P, 57 S, 5/0 GO/FO.

Maeda vs Washington: Seven starts into his fourth season in LA, Kenta Maeda took the hill tonight in Dodger Stadium (3-2) with a 4.66 ERA, 18 walks, 36 Ks, and a .257/.335/.465 line against in 38 ²⁄₃ IP.

At home in LA, the 31-year-old right-hander was (2-0) in two starts with a 2.70 ERA in 13 ¹⁄₃ IP before tonight. Maeda tossed five scoreless to start, limiting the Nationals to just a hit and a couple walks. and he retired the side in order in the sixth before he was done for the night...

Kenta Maeda’s Line: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks, 86 P, 57 S, 4/6 GO/FO.

Howie Doin: Howie Kendrick had hits in 10 of 13 games going into tonight’s matchup in LA’s Dodger Stadium, where he hit a three-run home run and an RBI single last night, leaving the veteran infielder 14 for 45 (.311/.347/.511) over that stretch, with three homers, three walks, and five Ks in 49 PAs in those 13 games, 10 of which he started. Maeda cooled Kendrick off, holding the Nationals’ first baseman hitless in two at bats, and Kendrick grounded out in his third trip to the plate in the seventh (against Julio Urías).

Kendrick got a second shot at Urías in the ninth, but grounded out, going hitless for the 12th time in 30 games played.

Shutouts: Washington’s 6-0 win over Los Angeles last night was the first shutout win over the Dodgers in Nationals’ franchise history (2005-present).

BULLPEN ACTION: Justin Miller took over for Aníbal Sánchez with a runner on second and one out in the Dodgers’ fifth, and walked the first batter he faced, putting David Freese on, but he stranded both runners to keep it a 3-0 game in LA’s favor.

Joe Ross retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the sixth, in a 14-pitch, nine-strike frame.

Julio Urías tossed a quick, 11-pitch, 1-2-3 seventh after taking over on the mound for Maeda.

Matt Grace retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but a single by Cody Bellinger extended the inning and a two-run blast by David Freese extended the Dodgers’ lead, 5-0.

Brian Dozier and Wilmer Difo hit back-to-back singles off Urías in the top of the eighth, and two outs later Victor Robles got hit by a pitch, loading them up in front of Anthony Rendon, who sent a sharp grounder to third that Max Muncy dove on before hustling to third base for the force. Still 5-0 LA.

Erick Fedde walked the opposing (relief) pitcher with two out, bringing Joc Pederson to the plate for a shot at a third home run on the night, but got the third out to keep it a five-run deficit.

Urías came back in the ninth and worked around a two-out single by Kurt Suzuki to end the second game of four with the Nationals. 5-0 Dodgers final.

Nationals now 15-23