On April 5, 2026, the Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 8-6 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Dodgers vs Washington Nationals Match Player Stats show how Los Angeles recovered from a five-run deficit.

Los Angeles entered at 6-2 and was trying to complete a three-game road sweep. Washington entered at 3-5 after losing the series’ opening two games.

Mookie Betts did not play after Los Angeles placed him on the injured list. Miguel Rojas started at shortstop, while Hyeseong Kim joined the active roster.

Washington built a 6-1 advantage through four innings. Los Angeles then scored seven unanswered runs across the final four offensive innings.

The decisive stretch came during a four-run Dodgers eighth. Santiago Espinal, Kyle Tucker, and Shohei Ohtani produced the tying and go-ahead runs.

Match Overview

The Dodgers completed their first 2026 series against Washington with three wins. The victory moved Los Angeles to 7-2 and dropped Washington to 3-6.

Rain delayed the start by two hours and nine minutes. First pitch eventually came at 3:44 p.m. ET.

Pre-Match Context

Los Angeles had already won the first two games of this Washington series. The Dodgers won 13-6 on April 3 and 10-5 on April 4.

That gave Los Angeles a chance to complete the three-game sweep. Washington was trying to stop a four-game losing streak.

The Dodgers entered with a 6-2 record despite missing Mookie Betts for this game. Betts went onto the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain.

Los Angeles recalled Hyeseong Kim on April 5. Miguel Rojas replaced Betts as the starting shortstop against Washington.

The Nationals also had several pitchers unavailable on injured-list assignments. Trevor Williams, DJ Herz, and Josiah Gray were among those absent.

Inning-by-Inning Score

Washington controlled the middle of the game before Los Angeles changed the score late. The Dodgers scored seven unanswered runs after trailing 6-1.

Inning-by-Inning Breakdown

First Inning

Neither team scored during the opening inning. The game remained tied 0-0 after one.

Second Inning

Both pitching staffs kept the score unchanged during the second inning. Washington and Los Angeles remained scoreless entering the third.

Third Inning

Shohei Ohtani opened the scoring with a solo home run for Los Angeles. His homer traveled 438 feet.

Luis García Jr. answered during Washington’s half. His two-run homer moved the Nationals ahead 2-1.

Fourth Inning

Keibert Ruiz extended Washington’s advantage with an RBI single. James Wood then hit a three-run home run.

Wood’s homer increased Washington’s lead to 6-1. All four Nationals runs in the inning came against Roki Sasaki.

Fifth Inning

Neither team scored in the fifth. Sasaki completed his outing by keeping Washington off the scoreboard during his final inning.

Sixth Inning

Dalton Rushing reduced the deficit with a two-run home run. His homer brought Los Angeles within 6-3.

Washington did not score during the bottom half. The Nationals still carried a three-run advantage into the seventh.

Seventh Inning

Neither team scored during the seventh inning. Los Angeles remained behind 6-3 with six outs available.

Eighth Inning

Los Angeles produced the game’s decisive scoring sequence in the eighth. The Dodgers scored four runs and moved ahead 7-6.

Santiago Espinal delivered a two-run single, reducing Washington’s lead to one run. Will Smith also drew a walk during the rally.

Kyle Tucker’s run-scoring fielder’s choice tied the game at 6-6. Ohtani followed with a sacrifice fly.

That sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run. Los Angeles finished the inning leading 7-6.

Ninth Inning

Teoscar Hernández added a solo home run in the ninth. That increased Los Angeles’ advantage to two runs.

Edwin Díaz then worked a scoreless bottom half. He secured the 8-6 victory and recorded his third save.

Team Stats Comparison

Los Angeles finished with four more hits and one more home run than Washington. Both clubs drew five walks and committed no errors.

The largest difference came after the starting pitchers exited. Washington’s bullpen allowed seven runs over the final four innings.

Key Numbers That Decided the Game

The numbers show a clear change after Washington established its five-run advantage. Los Angeles’ bullpen and late offense changed the result.

• Five-run deficit: Los Angeles trailed 6-1 before beginning its comeback with Rushing’s sixth-inning homer.
• Four-run eighth: Espinal, Tucker, and Ohtani drove in all four Dodgers runs during the decisive inning.
• Four scoreless bullpen innings: Dodgers relievers allowed one hit and no runs after Sasaki departed.
• Seven bullpen runs: Washington relievers allowed seven earned runs after Foster Griffin’s five-inning start.
• Three Dodgers homers: Ohtani, Rushing, and Hernández each homered during different stages of the comeback.

Full Box Score: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles collected 11 hits and scored eight runs despite producing only one run through five innings. Three Dodgers hitters homered.

Ohtani contributed two hits and two RBIs. Espinal and Rushing also drove in two runs each.

Dodgers Batting Production

Will Smith appeared as a pinch hitter and later caught. Hyeseong Kim entered defensively at second base without recording an at-bat.

Dodgers Batting Detail

Dodgers Pitching

Sasaki allowed all six Washington runs during his five innings. Los Angeles then used four relievers for four scoreless innings.

Jack Dreyer received the win after pitching a scoreless seventh. Díaz completed the game with a scoreless ninth.

Dodgers Pitching Control

Sasaki threw 90 pitches and 57 strikes. He allowed five hits, three walks, and two home runs.

Full Box Score: Washington Nationals

Washington produced six runs from seven hits. Five of those runs came through home runs from García and Wood.

The Nationals did not score after the fourth inning. Their final five offensive innings produced no additional runs.

Nationals Batting Production

Brady House, Jacob Young, and Curtis Mead appeared from the bench. Drew Millas entered at catcher without recording an at-bat.

Nationals Batting Detail

Nationals Pitching

Foster Griffin limited Los Angeles to one run across five innings. He struck out six and left with Washington leading 6-1.

The Dodgers scored seven runs against Washington’s bullpen. Cionel Pérez was charged with four without recording an out.

Nationals Pitching Control

Pérez faced five batters without retiring one. His appearance occurred during Los Angeles’ four-run eighth-inning comeback.

Game Leaders and Top Performers

Shohei Ohtani affected the game during two different scoring innings. He homered in the third and produced the go-ahead sacrifice fly.

Ohtani finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. His third-inning home run traveled 438 feet with a 114.6 mph exit velocity.

James Wood supplied Washington’s largest scoring swing. His three-run fourth-inning homer expanded the Nationals’ advantage to 6-1.

Dalton Rushing started Los Angeles’ recovery during the sixth. His two-run homer reduced the deficit from five runs to three.

Santiago Espinal delivered two runs during the eighth-inning rally. His single cut Washington’s lead from 6-3 to 6-5.

Foster Griffin held Los Angeles to one earned run across five innings. He left after striking out six Dodgers hitters.

Teoscar Hernández provided the game’s final run. His ninth-inning solo homer gave Díaz a two-run advantage for the bottom half.

Starting Lineups

Los Angeles started Rojas at shortstop following Betts’ move to the injured list. Washington used García at first and Nuñez at second.

Injury Report

Mookie Betts was the most direct lineup absence for Los Angeles. The Dodgers placed him on the 10-day injured list that day.

Los Angeles also had several pitchers on injured-list assignments. Washington entered with multiple starting-pitching options unavailable.

MLB does not use football’s standard “questionable” designation consistently. The table therefore lists only verified injured-list statuses.

Betts’ absence directly changed the Dodgers’ infield alignment. Rojas started at shortstop, while Kim joined the roster and later played second.

Washington’s injured pitchers reduced its available rotation depth. Griffin still delivered five innings with one earned run in this game.

Season Series and Head-to-Head

Los Angeles won every completed 2026 meeting between these teams through August 10. The April sweep gave the Dodgers a 3-0 season-series lead.

The teams are scheduled to meet again at Dodger Stadium from September 4 through September 6, 2026.

An all-time franchise series total is not included here. I could not verify that figure from the approved source set.

Division Standings After the Game

Los Angeles finished April 5 atop the NL West at 7-2. Washington dropped to 3-6 and occupied fifth in the NL East.

The Dodgers were the only NL West team above .500 after this result. Washington had lost five consecutive games.

Broadcast and Stream Information

The official MLB game listing provided local viewing information for both clubs. The scheduled start was 1:35 p.m. ET before rain intervened.

Broadcast availability can depend on location and subscription access. The listed services reflect MLB’s game information for April 5.

Conclusion

The April 5 result completed a three-game Dodgers sweep at Nationals Park. Los Angeles also strengthened its early position atop the NL West.

Washington controlled the game through four innings, while Griffin protected that advantage through five. The situation changed against the Nationals bullpen.

Los Angeles received scoreless work from all four relievers after Sasaki departed. Its offense then erased the deficit across three late innings.

The eighth inning ultimately separated the teams. Los Angeles combined several run-producing plate appearances instead of relying on one scoring swing.

Washington continued its season after falling to 3-6. Los Angeles moved to 7-2 before beginning its next road series in Toronto.

The clubs remained scheduled for another three-game meeting at Dodger Stadium in September.

For more match updates, read: Atlanta Braves vs Miami Marlins Match Player Stats

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Dodgers vs Washington Nationals final score?

The Dodgers defeated the Nationals 8-6 on April 5, 2026. Los Angeles scored seven unanswered runs after falling behind 6-1.

Who had the best Dodgers player stats against Washington?

Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. His eighth-inning sacrifice fly produced the go-ahead run.

Which inning decided Dodgers vs Nationals?

The eighth inning changed the lead. Los Angeles scored four runs through Espinal, Tucker, and Ohtani to move ahead 7-6.

Did Shohei Ohtani hit a home run against the Nationals?

Yes. Ohtani hit a 438-foot solo homer during the third inning. The ball left his bat at 114.6 mph.

Who were the starting pitchers?

Roki Sasaki started for Los Angeles and allowed six earned runs over five innings. Foster Griffin allowed one run over five.

Why did Mookie Betts not play?

The Dodgers placed Betts on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Miguel Rojas started at shortstop instead.

What was the 2026 Dodgers vs Nationals season series record?

Los Angeles led the 2026 season series 3-0 after completing the April sweep. Another three-game series begins September 4.