May 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Dan Haren (15) returns to the dugout following the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals played the second game of their three game series with the LA Dodgers Tuesday night. It was Clayton Kershaw vs Dan Haren in a game that turned into a pitchers duel. Haren pitched very well, but Kershaw was better, throwing eight and 2/3 shut out innings to stifle the Nats. The Dodgers won 2-0.

With Bryce Harper out of the lineup the day after forgetting he can’t run through fences (eleven stitches in the face) and Kershaw the left hander on the mound, Davey Johnson elected to start with the outfield combination of Steve Lombardozzi in left, Eury Perez in center and Tyler Moore in right, all of whom can or do bat right handed. Danny Espinosa also batted from the right side of the plate, batting leadoff.

The Nationals had their golden opportunity to score runs in the first inning, when they had Kershaw on the ropes but let him wiggle out of a bases loaded jam. With two outs, the Nats started getting to Kershaw. Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond singled, and Adam LaRoche walked to load the bases. Tyler Moore struck out on four pitches, leaving the bases loaded.

Dan Haren pitched seven innings and only gave up two runs. In the bottom of the third inning, Haren grazed Kershaw on the toe with a pitch, putting him on first. Matt Kemp singled, then Haren threw a wild pitch that advanced both runners. Haren struck out Adrian Gonzalez, but Andre Ethier singled, scoring Kershaw and Kemp. This was the only offense the Dodgers produced all night, but with Kershaw on the mound it was enough.

Ryan Mattheus pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for the Nats and was perfect, allowing no hits and no walks.

The Nats threatened again briefly in the ninth inning. Kershaw was tiring, as evidenced by Zimmerman and Desmond hitting deep fly balls for the first two outs. Zimmerman missed a home run by a couple of feet. LaRoche singled, and Don Mattingly had seen enough. He lifted Kershaw for reliever Kenley Jansen, who promptly struck out Moore to end the game.

Ryan Zimmerman proved he owns Kershaw as perhaps no other batter in the majors does. Zimmerman went 3-4 for the night. Adam LaRoche had a hit and drew the only walk Kershaw gave up all night. Other than Desmond’s single, the rest of the Nats offense was O for–no hits and no walks.

Next Game: The final game of the series is played on Wednesday, May 15th. Ross Detwiler (2-3, 2.53 ERA) pitches for the Nationals, while Zach Greinke (1-0, 1.59 ERA) makes his return to the Dodgers after breaking his collarbone earlier in the season in his one round fight with Carlos Quentin.

May 8, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) throws during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Zimmerman turned in another stellar performance against the fearsome Detroit Tigers lineup, and the Nationals beat the Tigers 3-1 in the first interleague game between the teams.

The game was delayed for an hour due to rain, and Zimmermann had to wait an extra day for his start, but none of that seemed to bother him as he pitched seven innings in a quality start. Zimmermann gave up one run in the third inning on a single to Miguel Cabrera which scored Torii Hunter. Jordan scattered seven hits over seven innings. His ERA is down to 1.59.

Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez has been a Nats nemesis in the past. When he was with Miami, the Nationals could not beat him no matter what they tried. Sanchez’s record against the Nats coming into this game was 10-0. Sanchez was not the better pticher on this night. He gave up three runs (two earned) over six innings. The Nationals had plenty of opportunities to break the game wide open, but rarely scored on those opportunities, continuing their RISP woes.

The Nationals scoring started in the bottom of the third, answering the run the Tigers had just put up. Denard Span tripled and came home on a sacrifice fly by Bryce Harper, tying the score. The Nats went ahead for good in the fourth inning on a bizarre play. Adam LaRoche and Danny Espinosa singled. With runners at first and second and one out, Kurt Suzuki hit a deep fly ball, and both runners tagged up. Hunter fired the ball to third after the catch, and the ball ended up bouncing into the camera well and then bouncing back onto the field. The umpires ruled the ball left the field of play, and LaRoche and Espinosa were awarded an extra base, which scored LaRoche.

Bryce Harper put the icing on the cake in the sixth with a solo home run, his tenth of the year. Harper looked much better at the plate, going one for three and adding two RBI’s to his stats. The enforced rest from the ejection and the rainout may have helped Harper’s injured side heal.

Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth inning on what was a roller coaster of an appearance. He got two quick outs against Cabrera and Prince Fielder, but then struggled to get that third out. He walked Andy Dirks and Jhonny Peralta, but finally got Alex Avila to strike out swinging to end the inning. In Tyler’s defense, the home plate umpire, Hunter Wendlestedt, appeared to be reluctant to call strike three on batters the entire game. The crowd was chirping during the Dirks and Peralta at bats, when Clippard would get to two strikes and then could not get that strike three call. Avila struck out swinging or we might all still be at the park waiting for that strike three call.

Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth inning for his eleventh save of the year. He owes the save to Roger Bernadina. Davey Johnson put him into left field for defensive purposes in the top of the eighth. That move paid off in the ninth. Omar Infante hit a line drive to left-center, which appeared to be destined to be a double. Bernadina made a spectacular diving play on the ball, catching it cleanly and robbing Infante. The crowd started doing “The Shark”, which made its appearance again on the next batter, when Bernadian caught a fly ball to left off the bat of Victor Martinez. I had to explain “The Shark” to the Detroit fan sitting next to me, who had never been to a Nats game. He thought the crowd was being alligators, but I straightened him out. Fittingly, Harper caught the last out of the game, a fly ball from Austin Jackson to end the game.

Game Notes: Jayson Werth sat out the game continuing to nurse his ankle and leg problems. Tyler Moore played in left field for most of the game, and Harper was in right. Adam LaRoche went 2 for 3, continuing to show signs he is heating up at the plate. Danny Espinosa also had a good night at the dish, also going 2 for 3. On the other hand, Moore was 0 for 3, and Ian Desmond was 0 for 4. Desmond contributed with his glove, making several great plays at short.

Next Game: Thursday, May 9th at Nats Park at 4:05. This is the makeup for Tuesday night’s rainout. Dan Haren ( 3-3, 5.01 ERA) will start for the Nationals, while the Tigers send Doug Fister (4-0, 2.48 ERA) to the bump.

May 2, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) celebrates with center fielder Denard Span (2) and left fielder Roger Bernadina (33) after beating the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Nationals won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals played the final game of their four game series with the Atlanta Braves and salvaged a split in the series, beating the Braves 3-1.

Dan Haren pitched his best game yet wearing a Nats uniform, going eight innings and only giving up one run, a solo home run to Dan Uggla in the seventh inning. Haren’s pitches had great movement all night, darting up and down and over both sides of the plate. The Braves hitters only managed to eke out five hits over the eight innings Haren pitched.

Kris Medlin, Atlanta’s starter, had a hard time settling down in the first two innings and the Nats jumped on the opportunity, scoring all three of their runs before the start of the third inning. Denard Span had a great night at the plate, going three for four with a walk. Span hit two doubles, one of which scored two runs. Span scored a run after reaching base on his first double. Span also recorded the first hit against the Atlanta bullpen this year, singling off Jordan Walden in the ninth inning,

Span lead off the game with a double and took third base on a wild pitch. Steve Lombardozzi drove in Span with a single. After Bryce Harper flew out to center field, Jayson Werth got Lombardozzi to second on a groundout, but Lombardozzi was stranded at second when Ian Desmond struck out looking.

In the second inning, the Nats cashed in again. Adam LaRoche doubled and Anthony Rendon singled, putting runners on the corners. Wilson Ramos hit a ground ball that should have netted the Braves a double play, but LaRoche came far enough off third to tempt the Braves into getting him caught in a rundown. LaRoche was out, but it was only the first out of the inning and the Nats still had two on. Haren sacrificed the runners over with a bunt, and then Span hit his second double, scoring both Rendon and Ramos.

That was the end of the Nats scoring off Braves pitching, but it was enough as Haren dealt the rest of the way. Desmond doubled for another extra base hit, and Rendon went two for three with a walk in what was probably his last game with the team before the return of Ryan Zimmerman sends him back to the minors.

For all the feel good from the Nationals win, the team continued its disturbing tendency to be unable to hit with runners in scoring position. The Nats were only three for eleven in this game with RISP. The other issue that arose was with Werth’s continuing problems with his leg/ankle injury. He left the game in the top of the fifth inning, his place taken by Roger Bernadina.

Alfonso Soriano pitched the bottom of the ninth, garnering his ninth save of the year.

Next Game:  The Nationals start a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, May 3rd at 7:05 p.m.  Ross Detwiler (1-2, 2.03 ERA) starts for the Nationals, while A. J. Burnett (2-2, 2.83 ERA) goes for the Pirates.