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 The Los Angeles right fielder homered, tripled and tied a
career-best with five RBIs, and the Dodgers snapped a season-high
four-game skid with a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals
before 49,384 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night.
Puig went 2-for-4 and drove in five runs for the first time since
June 4, 2013, against the San Diego Padres in his second big league
game. Puig said tinkering with his mechanics recently helped him
shake an inconsistent campaign this season. Puig is batting just
.191 in his last 15 games.
"Whether it's hitting the cages or out in (batting practice) or
working on my stance, what I've (also) been working on is being able
to pick better pitches (to hit)," said Puig, who leads the Dodgers
with five home runs since the All-Star break. "Changing that,
hopefully I'll be able to connect better based on my stance."
Dodgers starter Zack Greinke worked six shutout innings, striking
out six while allowing six hits and walking one. Greinke (12-2),
unbeaten in his last 10 starts, dropped his major league-leading ERA
to 1.65.
"Just located (my) fastball (and) slider, for the most part, really
well, so I didn't get off of that," said Greinke, who blanked the
Nationals for the second straight game, pitching eight scoreless
frames July 19 at Washington.
Washington manager Matt Williams said Greinke wasn't as sharp as he
was last month, but he still was effective.
"He's a good pitcher and he makes quality pitches when he needs to.
He did that again tonight," Williams said.
Relievers Yimi Garcia worked a pair of scoreless innings and Luis
Avilan pitched a perfect ninth for the National League West-leading
Dodgers (63-50), who remained 2 1/2 games ahead of the San Francisco
Giants. The Giants were 3-1 winners over the Houston Astros on
Tuesday.
Washington (58-54) is 2 1/2 games back of the first-place New York
Mets, who defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-0 earlier Tuesday, in the
National League East.
Nationals rookie Joe Ross (3-4) gave up five runs on six hits with a
four walks and a strikeout in 4 2/3 innings. The runs and walks were
career-highs in eight starts for Ross, who faced Los Angeles for the
first time.
"He went out there and gave us a chance," Williams said. "I like the
way he's going about his (performances)."
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After a leadoff triple by left fielder Andre Ethier opened the
fourth, Puig followed one batter later with a two-run homer to left
off Ross for a 2-0 Los Angeles lead. It was Puig's ninth home run
this season. For Ross, it was the first hit for extra bases he has
allowed to a right-handed batter all season.
"With a guy on third, he tried to throw a slider, but hung it a
little bit for a homer," Williams said. "He pitched well again. He
had a chance to get out of it with two (runs). Just didn't work out
for him."
In the fifth, Puig cleared the bases with a three-run triple that
right fielder Clint Robinson, subbing for the injured Bryce Harper
(sore left knee), was unable to reach. That made it 5-0 for the
Dodgers and spelled the end for Ross.
Robinson appeared to get a bad jump on Puig's three-bagger, then let
it get past him as Puig raced into third standing.
"He's not our normal right fielder for sure, but he gave it every
effort, and almost got it," said Williams, after being asked whether
Robinson should have made the catch.
NOTES: Nationals OF Bryce Harper did not play after hurting himself
diving for a third-inning triple by Dodgers INF Jose Peraza in
Monday's 8-3 win by Washington. Harper played the rest of the game,
but his knee swelled considerably overnight, manager Matt Williams
said. Harper is listed as day-to-day. ... Dodgers RHP Joel Peralta
was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a neck sprain. Peralta
said he began feeling discomfort during last week's series in
Philadelphia. RHP Yimi Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma
City to replace Peralta. ... Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (8-7,
3.44 ERA) will face Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (9-6, 2.51 ERA) in
the series finale Wednesday.
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