Nationals Vs. Dodgers Final Score: Los Angeles Emerges Victorious In Pitchers Duel, 2-0

Chris Capuano out-dueled Gio Gonzalez, leading the Dodgers to a 2-0 victory in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon.

The Nationals out-hit the Dodgers 4-3 in a game that lacked offense, but the Dodgers made the most of their chances, as a two-run single by James Loney in the bottom of the sixth was the difference.

Gonzalez allowed the two runs on three hits while striking out seven in six innings of work, however his five walks on the afternoon was his undoing.

Capuano fared much better, pitching 6.2 innings and striking out nine Nationals batters. Josh Lindblom and Kenley Jansen pitched clean innings of relief to wrap up the win.

The Nationals will look to rebound on Tuesday when they return home to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Nationals Vs. Dodgers Score Update: Offense Lacking In 0-0 Tie After Five Innings

Pitching has had the upper hand in the first five innings of the series finale between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers, as the two teams are in a 0-0 deadlock.

Each team has been able to muster only two hits, as Gio Gonzalez has shined for the Nationals while Chris Capuano has done well for the Dodgers.

Gonzalez has struck out 5 while walking two in five innings. He is at 59 pitches after five innings.

The Nationals had a chance to score in the top of the fifth when Ian Desmond hit a double, but was not able to score.

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Nationals Vs. Dodgers: The Gio Gonzalez Show Takes Center Stage In Los Angeles

The Washington Nationals (14-7) and Gio Gonzalez take the field Sunday looking to salvage a series finale win in their weekend matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers (15-6).

Gonzalez, Washington's key offseason pitching acquisition, currently has a 20-inning scoreless streak, and is 2-0 on the season with a minuscule 1.52 ERA. On Tuesday, Gonzalez allowed just two hits for the third straight start in besting the San Diego Padres 3-1.

The Dodgers will answer with fellow lefty Chris Capuano, 2-0 on the year with a 3.52 ERA. In his last outing, Capuano gave up just one run over seven innings to earn the win in a 7-2 Dodgers victory over the Braves.

With losses in the first two games of this series, the Nationals have now dropped 16 of their past 19 games at Dodger Stadium.

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Nationals Prospect Tyler Moore Promoted To Majors, According To Report

It has been quite a busy weekend for the Washington Nationals organization. Phenom Bryce Harper was called up to the big club and started in left field on Saturday night, and it now appears an injury to Mark DeRosa will see fellow prospect Tyler Moore join Harper on the Nationals major league roster. Via Bill Ladson:

I was just informed that Tyler Moore was promoted to the big leagues.The #Nats have also placed Mark DeRosa on the disabled list. #MLB.

— William Ladson (@washingnats) April 29, 2012

Moore hit 31 home runs in each of his previous two minor league season, and is absolutely tearing it up at Class AAA Syracuse this season, homering Saturday night for the seventh time this year. Traditionally a first baseman, Moore has also recently been playing left field for the Chiefs, though his former teammate Harper may have just locked that position down for the next decade.

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Nationals Vs. Dodgers: Matt Kemp Beats Washington With 10th Inning HR

The end, when it came, came quickly. Matt Kemp hit his 11th home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals, 4-3 Saturday night.

Kemp hit a 1-2 pitch from Tom Gorzelanny into the right-center field bleachers to hand Washington a third straight loss for the first time this season.

Gorzelanny took the loss, while Jamey Wright earned the win by retiring the Nationals in order in the top of the 10th.

The Dodgers go for the sweep Sunday afternoon, as Gio Gonzalez is slated to face Chris Capuano. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m.

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Nationals Vs Dodgers: Nationals, Dodgers Head To Extra Innings Tied At 3-3

Henry Rodriguez blew a 3-1 ninth-inning lead and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to force extra innings Saturday night at Dodgers Stadium.

Rodriguez started the bottom of the ninth and allowed a single to Mark Ellis, who advanced to second on a wild pitch; a single to James Loney; and a ground-rule double to Juan Uribe before striking out A.J. Ellis and inducing Adam Kennedy to ground into a force play to first that resulted in Loney being cut down at the plate. With a two-strike count on Dee Gordon, Rodriguez uncorked a wild pitch that tied the game.

After Gordon reached on a dropped third strike, Tom Gorzelanny entered and induced Tony Gwynn Junior to line out to Adam LaRoche at first base.

The remarkable inning overshadowed the major league debut of Bryce Harper, who went 1-for-3 with a double and drove in a run with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.

With the score tied at 1-1, Adam LaRoche led off the inning with an opposite-field single to left-center field. After Rick Ankiel reached on a fielder's choice, Danny Espinosa lined a single to left-center to put runners at the corners with one out before Harper drove in Ankiel. Wilson Ramos provided some insurance with an RBI single to right field that scored Espinosa.

Harper's heroics, in turn, overshadowed a brilliant pitcher's duel between Stephen Strasburg (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 9 Ks) and Chad Billingsley (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks). Neither team scored until the 7th inning, when LaRoche put Washington up 1-0 with a solo shot into the right field seats.

The Dodgers answered in the bottom of the seventh when Jerry Hairston, Jr. was hit by a pitch and James Loney reached on an error by Espinosa. After Juan Uribe struck out swinging, Hairston scored on A.J. Ellis' single to left, knocking the ball out of Ramos' hands in a home plate collision to deny Harper an outfield assist.

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ANIMATED: Man Moons While Bryce Harper Strokes His First MLB Hit

PHOTO: Bryce Harper's Topps Rookie Card

Bryce Harper Debut: Nationals Phenom Grounds Out In First Major League At-Bat

In his very first big-league at-bat, Bryce Harper grounded out to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley on a 2-1 pitch in the top of the 2nd inning.

Harper made his major-league regular season debut Saturday after being called up from AAA Syracuse to replace third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on Washington's active roster. Zimmerman was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to April 21.

In 20 games with Syracuse, Harper recorded an on-base percentage of .333 and an OPS of .708 over 82 plate appearances. Six of his 18 hits went for extra bases and Harper drove in three runs.

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Nationals Prospect Bryce Harper Prepares For Debut By Crushing Batting Practice Home Runs

Bryce Harper Debut: Nationals Owner Says Harper: 'Not Our Run-Production Savior'

To say that the Nationals offense is struggling is to understate the idea. Washington currently ranks ninth in the National League in on-base percentage, 11th in runs, 13th in batting average and OPS, and 15th in slugging percentage.

With Nationals left fielders recording a .200 on-base percentage, it shouldn't be surprising that some people see Harper as the man to lift Washington out of their offensive funk.

Not so fast, says Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner, who wrote the following in his blog Saturday afternoon.

Bryce should not be seen as a panacea. He's not our run-production savior. That would be unfair.

But [General Manager] Mike [Rizzo] does think - and I agree - that Bryce can provide our roster a healthy jolt.

So, let's see what he can do.

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Nationals Vs. Dodgers: Bryce Harper In Starting Lineup, Will Make Major League Debut

On the same day the Robert Griffin III Era officially began in Washington, Nationals uber prospect Bryce Harper will make his major league debut for Washington in their Saturday evening contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Harper will play left field and bat seventh against L.A.

Via the team's official twitter feed, here is tonight's Washington starting lineup:

#Nats lineup: Desmond SS, Lombardozzi 3B, Werth RF, LaRoche 1B, Ankiel CF, Espinosa 2B, Harper LF, Ramos C, Strasburg RHP

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 28, 2012

It seems only fitting that on the night Harper makes his major league debut fellow phenom Stephen Strasburg will be on the hill for the Nationals.

For more updates on this story, stay tuned to this StoryStream and SB Nation DC. For all the latest news and analysis on the Washington Nationals, visit Federal Baseball. For the Dodger point of view, check out True Blue LA. Still not enough baseball for you? Visit the SB Nation MLB Hub Page, Baseball Nation, for all the latest news from all 30 MLB teams.

Nationals Vs. Dodgers: Washington Drops Series Opener, 3-2

On the night before Harpermas, the Washington Nationals were held to three hits by Los Angeles Dodgers pitching and fell to the National League West leaders, 3-2 Friday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run by Andre Ethier off of Ross Detwiler and increased their lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Matt Kemp scored on Juan Uribe's infield single.

Washington made the score 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning, after Adam LaRoche hit a two-run home run into the Nationals bullpen. But with the exception of LaRoche, the Nationals were stymied by defending National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who allowed three hits (two to LaRoche) and two earned runs over eight innings while striking out six and walking one.

Kenley Jansen recorded his first save of the season, though he had a frightening moment in the ninth inning when Danny Espinosa lined an opposite-field shot just to the right of the right-field foul pole.

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Brad Lidge Injury: Reliever Placed On DL, Nationals Recall Ryan Perry, According To Reports

The Washington Nationals continue to be bit by the injury bug, as Amanda Comak of the Washington Post is reportingthat the Nats will place reliever Brad Lidge on the disabled list with an abdominal strain and recall pitcher Ryan Perry from Triple-A Syracuse.

Lidge has been beaten around in his outings so far in 2012, allowing four runs in seven innings while allowing seven walks. This injury, similar to a sports hernia, may be the culprit to his struggles thus far.

Perry has made eight appearances with the Syracuse Chiefs so far in 2012, pitching nine innings while allowing just two runs and striking out 11. He played with the Detroit Tigers in 2011, including making an appearance in the 2011 NLCS.

For more updates on the status of Brad Lidge, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. For all the latest news and analysis on the Washington Nationals, make sure to visit Federal Baseball.

Ryan Zimmerman Injury: Nationals' Star Heads To DL, Bryce Harper Called Up To Majors

The Washington Nationals sent shockwaves through baseball by calling up 19-year-old prospect Bryce Harper after placing Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day DL.

Nationals Vs. Dodgers: Division Leaders Meet At Chavez Ravine

The Washington Nationals face their biggest test of the early season on Friday night as they go to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers. Can Ross Detwiler continue his amazing start to the season to best the defending NL Cy Young Winner Clayton Kershaw?