Baseball: Dodgers blank Nationals in home win

Kenta Maeda pitched six innings of one-hit ball, and Joc Pederson hit a pair of home runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded for a 5-0 victory against the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday. Maeda walked two and struck out six one night after the Nationals rolled to a 6-0 victory to end Los Angeles' 10-game home winning streak. David Freese added a two-run home run in the seventh inning.

Pederson homered leading off for the Dodgers in the first inning, but Nationals starter Anibal Sanchez seemed to settle down from there. He gave up another run in the fourth inning on a Chris Taylor triple, which was aided by an Adam Eaton misplay in right field. Pederson's home run in the first inning was his 14th as his team's first batter of the game.

In the fifth inning, Pederson delivered another solo shot off Sanchez, driving a ball to the back of the Nationals' bullpen in right field. It was a 12th home run of the season for Pederson, who also has 11 career multi-homer games, three of which have come this season. After Max Muncy followed Pederson's second home run with a single and a stolen base, Sanchez struck out Bellinger before manager Dave Martinez lifted him from the game. Sanchez gave up three runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings, with two walks and three strikeouts.

Maeda won a start for the first time since April 16, although it was his second scoreless outing over his past three appearances. Left-hander Julio Urias followed with three shutout innings for his second save. The Dodgers improved to 16-5 at home and 4-1 on their current nine-game homestand. Los Angeles matched the Milwaukee Brewers for most home victories in baseball.

The Dodgers won without a pair of key contributors in the lineup. Justin Turner was given a day of rest, and Corey Seager was a late scratch, with the Dodgers not disclosing a reason. The Nationals lost for the fifth time in their past six games and the ninth time in their past 12.

(With inputs from agencies.)