Parra's grand slam lifts Nationals past Dodgers
Gerardo Parra hit a grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning Saturday to rally the visiting Washington Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It was the first hit in a Nationals uniform for Parra, who signed with Washington on Thursday after he was cut loose by the San Francisco Giants earlier in the week. It was just the second home run of the season for Parra and eighth in his last two years.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler held the Nationals scoreless over seven innings before turning things over to the bullpen. Washington loaded the bases in the eighth against right-hander Pedro Baez with one out, helped by a throwing error from Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner.
Juan Soto delivered a single to left field against left-hander Scott Alexander, but only one run scored on the hit as the Nationals cut the deficit to 2-1. With the bases still loaded, right-hander Dylan Floro struck out Anthony Rendon and was one strike away from escaping trouble.
Parra then turned on a 95 mph fastball and hit it over the wall in right-center to put the Nationals in front 5-2. Baez (2-2) was charged with three runs while taking the loss. Floro did not give up a run in his first 15 outings of the season but has been charged with three runs in two outings this series against the Nationals.
Buehler gave up just four hits in his seven innings with a walk and seven strikeouts.
Nationals starter Max Scherzer (2-4) gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings, earning a victory for the first time since April 7 at New York against the Mets.
Sean Doolittle pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his sixth save.
The run support was a welcome sight for Scherzer. The Nationals scored three runs or fewer in seven of Scherzer's first eight starts of the season.
Turner hit a two-run home run for the Dodgers in the third inning, his sixth of the season and fifth in his last four games. He was given a day of rest Friday.
The Nationals won for the second time in the series after entering the four-game set on a four-game losing streak. The Nationals ended the Dodgers' 10-game home winning streak Thursday.
After a fourth-inning double from Alex Verdugo, the Dodgers closed out the game 1-for-19 at the plate.
--Field Level Media
