The Washington Nationals' bats came alive for them on Monday, allowing them to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2, in a Labor Day afternoon game at Nationals Park. The Nationals belted three first-inning home runs and never looked back, giving plenty of run support to allow John Lannan to snap a four-game losing streak.
Things got going early when the Nationals scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Ian Desmond hit a lead-off home run to tie the score at one. Morse then hit a two-run home run to push the Nationals' lead to 3-1, and Jayson Werth followed with a home run of his own. It was the first time Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda allowed three home runs in a start in his career, and they all happened in the first inning. Morse added a second home run in sixth inning, his 26th on the season.
The win moved Lannan to 9-11 on the season. Kuroda fell to 11-15.