Snell throws 6 shutout innings and Tucker ends home run drought as Dodgers beat Nationals 5-3

Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in their series opener on Friday night. Starting pitcher Blake Snell (3-1) put together an impressive performance, tossing six scoreless innings and striking out seven batters. Kyle Tucker (12th homer of the season) finally broke his home run drought with a blast in the sixth inning, making it 5-0 for the Dodgers.

The team took a commanding four-run lead in the third inning, thanks to Alex Call's double with the bases loaded and Mookie Betts' RBI single, as well as Teoscar Hernández's two-run double. Washington managed to get three straight hits off reliever Seth Halvorsen in the ninth inning, scoring two runs. Brady House delivered a timely double and scored on pinch-hitter Abimelec Ortiz's single, while Ortiz went from third to home on pinch-hitter José Tena's groundout.

James Wood's RBI double sealed the deal, making it 5-3 in favor of the Dodgers. Nationals closer James Wood's RBI double helped secure the win for the Dodgers.