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Dodgers try to get back in win column vs. Nats

Sep 5, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to get back into the win column when they begin a four-game series against the Washington Nationals Monday afternoon from the nation's capital.

The Dodgers had won six in a row before losing Sunday's contest in Atlanta by a 4-3 score, as Martin Prado's RBI single off of Los Angeles reliever Blake Hawksworth in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted his team to victory.

Hawksworth was dealt the loss and starter Clayton Kershaw was reached for three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings of work. Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer and Dee Gordon finished with three hits for Los Angeles, which is still a dominant 11-2 in its last 13 games and 3-1 on an 11-game road trip.

"He's pitched great for us this year. He's been great his whole career here and I'm happy the world gets to see it," Gordon said about Kershaw.

Los Angeles had won six in a row on the road and will also visit San Francisco on this trek. Hiroki Kuroda hopes to get the Dodgers back on track when he takes the hill today. He has won four straight and five of six starts and defeated San Diego his last time out on Tuesday in an 8-5 victory. He was reached for four runs in six innings, but was bailed out by the offense.

The win lifted Kuroda's record to 11-14 with a 3.03 ERA in 27 starts. The righty lost to Washington on July 22 at Chavez Ravine and is 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA in three career starts against the Nationals. He is 7-5 in 12 road starts this season.

Washington lost two of three meetings with the New York Mets over the weekend to start a 10-game trek and is coming off Sunday's 6-3 setback in which veteran starter Livan Hernandez was charged with six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. Hernandez made his 474th consecutive appearance as a starter and will be shut down for the rest of the season to make room for returning phenom Stephen Strasburg and other young hurlers.

"I've had a real good time here and a real good time playing baseball," said Hernandez. "I've gotten so much support through my career and this is the greatest job to have."

Danny Espinosa had three hits and an RBI, while Wilson Ramos went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run for the Nationals, who lost for the 10th time in their last 12 games and will also host Houston on this residency. Ian Desmond had his eight-game hitting streak snapped thanks to an 0-for-5 day and Ramos extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Before Strasburg makes his return from Tommy John surgery, John Lannan hopes to end a personal losing streak when he toes the rubber for Washington on Monday. Lannan has dropped four straight starts and last pitched in a 3-1 setback at Atlanta on Wednesday, when he allowed three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in seven innings.

Lannan is just 8-11 with a 3.54 ERA in 28 starts this season and 4-6 in 14 outings at Nationals Park. He beat the Dodgers back on July 22 and is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four career starts against them.

The Dodgers took two of three from Washington in that series from July 22-24 and have won four of the previous five meetings between the teams.