WASHINGTON (AP) – Michael Morse and the Washington Nationals put together one powerful start Monday.

Morse hit two of Washington’s four homers and John Lannan pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Nationals to a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Morse, Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth all went deep in the first inning as Washington grabbed a 4-1 lead. The Nationals had dropped 10 of 12, while the Dodgers came in winners of 11 of 13.

All four homers — Morse hit No. 26 in the sixth inning — came against Hiroki Kuroda (11-15), who entered with a career-high four-game winning streak. The right-hander had a season-high nine strikeouts, but gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings.

Lannan (9-11), who had lost his previous four starts, allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Collin Balester, Tom Gorzelanny, Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett combined for the final 3 2/3 innings.

Morse drove in three runs and was one of five Nationals with two hits. The first baseman-outfielder leads the team in home runs, average (.315) and RBI (82).

“Over the course of my career I’ve hit behind some pretty good hitters. Mike is having a big year,” said Werth, who often followed Ryan Howard and Chase Utley in Philadelphia’s lineup before signing with the Nationals last winter.

“When I signed here he was one of the guys I really liked and thought he had a chance to be a really good player. He’s really done a good job this year and turned himself into a force to be reckoned with and a guy going forward who’s going to be a pillar in this organization.”

Kuroda had never allowed three or more home runs in the same game, let alone the same inning. The four-year veteran threw 114 pitches.

“Usually, when you don’t pitch good, it’s that first inning,” Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said. “[Kuroda] got himself into a groove and pitched well after that. He gave us some chances to kind of creep back in.”

Lack of run support was a factor in Lannan’s skid as the Nationals scored a combined five runs in that stretch. They nearly generated that output in the first inning against Los Angeles.

Jamey Carroll and Matt Kemp hit consecutive doubles in the first to give the Dodgers the lead, but Desmond led off the bottom half with a drive to left-center on a 1-2 slider.

“They kind of had the momentum right there in the first inning,” said Desmond, who has two leadoff home runs in the last three games. “It was nice for us to answer back and then continue to keep it going the rest of the game. That’s something we haven’t done this year.”

After Rick Ankiel singled and Ryan Zimmerman’s fly ball was caught at the wall, Morse’s drive cleared the fence in left. Werth followed with another shot to left, also on a slider, for the fourth set of back-to-back home runs by the Nationals this season.

“I didn’t have my slider in the first inning, or throughout the game,” Kuroda said through an interpreter.

Los Angeles put two on with no outs in the fourth inning but Russ Mitchell grounded into a double play that nearly was a triple play, and Tony Gwynn Jr. flied out to left to end the inning.

Lannan was removed after Juan Rivera’s single in the sixth and James Loney singled against Balester with two down. Gorzelanny entered to face lefty batter Gwynn, who struck out on a foul tip.

“I felt pretty good. A little hiccup there in the first, but I settled down after they scored,” said Lannan, who threw 27 of his 94 pitches in the first inning. “It’s always a little bit of a comfort when you can go out there and just try and get ahead knowing that you have a lead.”

Justin Sellers hit an RBI double in the ninth for Los Angeles.

Ankiel doubled in Desmond in the seventh, and Wilson Ramos had an RBI single in the eighth.

Notes

The Dodgers entered having won four consecutive series.
Rain is forecast throughout the day on Tuesday, potentially interfering with Stephen Strasburg’s season debut. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft is returning to the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery last fall. “If [Strasburg] warms up and it rains, we’ll probably have to do it another day,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said.
Johnson acknowledged a wave of minor leaguers are expected to be called up on Tuesday. Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Brad Peacock and second baseman Stephen Lombardozzi are the expected headliners.

Morse, Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth all went deep in the first inning as Washington grabbed a 4-1 lead. The Nationals had dropped 10 of 12, while the Dodgers came in winners of 11 of 13.

All four homers — Morse hit No. 26 in the sixth inning — came against Hiroki Kuroda (11-15), who entered with a career-high four-game winning streak. The right-hander had a season-high nine strikeouts, but gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings.

Lannan (9-11), who had lost his previous four starts, allowed one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. Collin Balester, Tom Gorzelanny, Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett combined for the final 3 2-3 innings.

Morse drove in three runs and was one of five Nationals with two hits. The first baseman-outfielder leads the team in home runs, average (.315) and RBIs (82).

“Over the course of my career I’ve hit behind some pretty good hitters. Mike is having a big year,” said Werth, who often followed Ryan Howard and Chase Utley in Philadelphia’s lineup before signing with the Nationals last winter.

“When I signed here he was one of the guys I really liked and thought he had a chance to be a really good player. He’s really done a good job this year and turned himself into a force to be reckoned with and a guy going forward who’s going to be a pillar in this organization.”

Kuroda had never allowed three or more home runs in the same game, let alone the same inning. The four-year veteran threw 114 pitches.

“Usually, when you don’t pitch good, it’s that first inning,” Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said. “(Kuroda) got himself into a groove and pitched well after that. He gave us some chances to kind of creep back in.”

Lack of run support was a factor in Lannan’s skid as the Nationals scored a combined five runs in that stretch. They nearly generated that output in the first inning against Los Angeles.

Jamey Carroll and Matt Kemp hit consecutive doubles in the first to give the Dodgers the lead, but Desmond led off the bottom half with a drive to left-center on a 1-2 slider.

“They kind of had the momentum right there in the first inning,” said Desmond, who has two leadoff home runs in the last three games. “It was nice for us to answer back and then continue to keep it going the rest of the game. That’s something we haven’t done this year.”

After Rick Ankiel singled and Ryan Zimmerman’s fly ball was caught at the wall, Morse’s drive cleared the fence in left. Werth followed with another shot to left, also on a slider, for the fourth set of back-to-back home runs by the Nationals this season.

“I didn’t have my slider in the first inning, or throughout the game,” Kuroda said through an interpreter.

Los Angeles put two on with no outs in the fourth inning but Russ Mitchell grounded into a double play that nearly was a triple play, and Tony Gwynn Jr. flied out to left to end the inning.

Lannan was removed after Juan Rivera’s single in the sixth and James Loney singled against Balester with two down. Gorzelanny entered to face lefty batter Gwynn, who struck out on a foul tip.

“I felt pretty good. A little hiccup there in the first, but I settled down after they scored,” said Lannan, who threw 27 of his 94 pitches in the first inning. “It’s always a little bit of a comfort when you can go out there and just try and get ahead knowing that you have a lead.”

Justin Sellers hit an RBI double in the ninth for Los Angeles.

Ankiel doubled in Desmond in the seventh, and Wilson Ramos had an RBI single in the eighth.

NOTES: The Dodgers entered having won four consecutive series. … Rain is forecast throughout the day on Tuesday, potentially interfering with Stephen Strasburg’s season debut. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft is returning to the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery last fall. “If (Strasburg) warms up and it rains, we’ll probably have to do it another day,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. … Johnson acknowledged a wave of minor leaguers are expected to be called up on Tuesday. Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Brad Peacock and second baseman Stephen Lombardozzi are the expected headliners.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Morse and the Washington Nationals put together one powerful start Monday.

Morse hit two of Washington’s four homers and John Lannan pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Nationals to a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Morse, Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth all went deep in the first inning as Washington grabbed a 4-1 lead. The Nationals had dropped 10 of 12, while the Dodgers came in winners of 11 of 13.

All four homers — Morse hit No. 26 in the sixth inning — came against Hiroki Kuroda (11-15), who entered with a career-high four-game winning streak. The right-hander had a season-high nine strikeouts, but gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings.

Lannan (9-11), who had lost his previous four starts, allowed one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. Collin Balester, Tom Gorzelanny, Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett combined for the final 3 2-3 innings.

Morse drove in three runs and was one of five Nationals with two hits. The first baseman-outfielder leads the team in home runs, average (.315) and RBIs (82).

“Over the course of my career I’ve hit behind some pretty good hitters. Mike is having a big year,” said Werth, who often followed Ryan Howard and Chase Utley in Philadelphia’s lineup before signing with the Nationals last winter.

“When I signed here he was one of the guys I really liked and thought he had a chance to be a really good player. He’s really done a good job this year and turned himself into a force to be reckoned with and a guy going forward who’s going to be a pillar in this organization.”

Kuroda had never allowed three or more home runs in the same game, let alone the same inning. The four-year veteran threw 114 pitches.

“Usually, when you don’t pitch good, it’s that first inning,” Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said. “(Kuroda) got himself into a groove and pitched well after that. He gave us some chances to kind of creep back in.”

Lack of run support was a factor in Lannan’s skid as the Nationals scored a combined five runs in that stretch. They nearly generated that output in the first inning against Los Angeles.

Jamey Carroll and Matt Kemp hit consecutive doubles in the first to give the Dodgers the lead, but Desmond led off the bottom half with a drive to left-center on a 1-2 slider.

“They kind of had the momentum right there in the first inning,” said Desmond, who has two leadoff home runs in the last three games. “It was nice for us to answer back and then continue to keep it going the rest of the game. That’s something we haven’t done this year.”

After Rick Ankiel singled and Ryan Zimmerman’s fly ball was caught at the wall, Morse’s drive cleared the fence in left. Werth followed with another shot to left, also on a slider, for the fourth set of back-to-back home runs by the Nationals this season.

“I didn’t have my slider in the first inning, or throughout the game,” Kuroda said through an interpreter.

Los Angeles put two on with no outs in the fourth inning but Russ Mitchell grounded into a double play that nearly was a triple play, and Tony Gwynn Jr. flied out to left to end the inning.

Lannan was removed after Juan Rivera’s single in the sixth and James Loney singled against Balester with two down. Gorzelanny entered to face lefty batter Gwynn, who struck out on a foul tip.

“I felt pretty good. A little hiccup there in the first, but I settled down after they scored,” said Lannan, who threw 27 of his 94 pitches in the first inning. “It’s always a little bit of a comfort when you can go out there and just try and get ahead knowing that you have a lead.”

Justin Sellers hit an RBI double in the ninth for Los Angeles.

Ankiel doubled in Desmond in the seventh, and Wilson Ramos had an RBI single in the eighth.

NOTES: The Dodgers entered having won four consecutive series. … Rain is forecast throughout the day on Tuesday, potentially interfering with Stephen Strasburg’s season debut. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft is returning to the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery last fall. “If (Strasburg) warms up and it rains, we’ll probably have to do it another day,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. … Johnson acknowledged a wave of minor leaguers are expected to be called up on Tuesday. Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Brad Peacock and second baseman Stephen Lombardozzi are the expected headliners.

Jordan Zimmermann doesn’t want to be labeled as a hard-luck loser — even though he pitched well for the second straight game and still lost.
On Saturday, he allowed just two runs in six innings, but the offensively challenged Washington Nationals managed only a run and five hits in a 2-1 defeat to the San Diego Padres.
Last Sunday, Zimmermann pitched brilliantly, allowing just one hit in six innings before Baltimore’s Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer in the seventh for another 2-1 loss.
Against San Diego, Zimmermann gave up five hits — two of them were the first two of Blake Tekotte’s major league career.
“I just try and go out there as long as possible and give the team a chance to win. I felt I did that today. The bats weren’t there,” Zimmermann said.
Even with his offense lagging, Zimmermann, who’s won just once since April 8, doesn’t think he’s trying too hard.
“I just pitch the same game I’d pitch if they got 10 runs in the first inning,” he said.
Tim Stauffer (1-3) limited the Nationals to four hits and a run — a seventh-inning homer by Laynce Nix — to win for the first time in 11 starts. He struck out four and walked four.
Mike Adams, who threw one pitch on Friday night — Michael Morse’s game-ending homer — pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Heath Bell worked the ninth for his 11th save.
San Diego had lost six of its previous seven.
The Padres are batting .226 — worst in the majors. The Nationals are hitting just a point better. In the first two games of the series, they scored three runs and had just nine hits.
“We just didn’t get it done offensively. There’s not an explanation for it. It just didn’t happen,” manager Jim Riggleman said.
Stauffer quickly found himself in trouble. With one out in the first, he walked three straight Nationals to load the bases. On his first pitch to Morse, Friday’s hero grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Nationals, who have lost of eight of 10, had just two singles through six innings until Nix’s home run. It was his seventh.
The Padres scored twice in the fourth off Jordan Zimmermann (2-6). With one out, Chase Headley singled and scored on a triple by Tekotte that hit off right fielder Jayson Werth’s glove. Playing in just his third major league game, Tekotte also doubled in the second inning and scored on Kyle Phillips’ single. Phillips hit broke an 0-for-14 skid.
Zimmermann hasn’t won in his last four starts, though he hasn’t pitched badly. Last Sunday, he was sailing through six innings, allowing just one hit, but gave up a decisive two-run home run to Baltimore’s Vladimir Guerrero in the second inning.
Riggleman isn’t afraid that his pitcher will develop a complex.
“He’s a tough guy. He knows he pitched good. He knows he didn’t pitch as good as he could,” Riggleman said. “I don’t have any concerns about his frame of mind.”
NOTES: Nix’s homer was just the fourth allowed by Stauffer in 11 starts. … The Nationals recalled RHP Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse. He was returned after the game. Washington hasn’t officially announced a starter, but it’s expected to be RHP Yunesky Maya, who would also be recalled from Syracuse. Maya would replace LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who was put on the DL with an inflamed left elbow. Gorzelanny said he expected to pitch when he’s eligible. “It feels like a shin splint in my elbow,” he said. … Nationals C Ivan Rodriguez said he told Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo he doesn’t want to be traded. With San Francisco’s Buster Posey out for the season, the Giants might be looking for a catcher. “I can tell you one thing. I feel great where I am,” Rodriguez said. “Those rumors — I heard that a whole lot in my 21-year career.”

By: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee fields a ball hit by Washington Nationals Michael Morse for the throw to first for an out during the second inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park on Sunday, April 17, 2011, in Washington.

Danny Espinosa and Ivan Rodriguez each hit three-run home runs, Jason Marquis pitched into the eighth inning and the Washington Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Ian Desmond also homered for the Nationals, who set season bests with eight runs and 11 hits.
Marquis (1-0) allowed two runs on nine hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out four and walked one. It was Marquis’ first home win in eight tries with the Nationals.
Espinosa’s second homer of the season gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning. One inning later Rodriguez hit his first home run of the year, making it a five-run lead.
Yovani Gallardo (1-1) allowed seven runs on 10 hits, striking out five without a walk. Casey McGehee was 3 for 5 with an RBI for the Brewers, who dropped the first two games in the three-game series.
Saturday’s game was postponed by rain, leading to the first doubleheader at Nationals Park since a twin-bill with the Giants on June 4, 2009.
Espinosa was moved to the leadoff spot on Friday, replacing the slumping Desmond. Desmond, batting sixth, started the season 0 for 29 at home before his sixth-inning double. Desmond hit his second homer of the season in the eighth.
The Brewers scored in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by McGehee, and made it 2-0 in the fourth. Milwaukee loaded the bases on singles by McGehee, Mark Kotsay and Carlos Gomez. Gallardo came up with one out and singled to right field, scoring McGehee. Marquis got out of the jam, retiring Rickie Weeks on a foul popup and getting Craig Counsell to ground out to short.
After Rick Ankiel singled in the first inning, Gallardo retired 10 consecutive batters. Jayson Werth ended that streak with a fourth-inning single to left, and Adam LaRoche followed with a single to advance Werth to third. Werth scored on Michael Morse’s sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1.
Gallardo had more trouble in the fifth, giving up singles to Alex Cora and Marquis before Espinosa sent a full-count fastball into the Nationals’ right field bullpen.
In the sixth inning, Morse’s single and Desmond’s double set up Rodriguez’s homer, which just cleared the wall above the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field.
The Brewers scored two runs after loading the bases in the ninth inning.
NOTES: Washington placed RHP Todd Coffey on the 15-day disabled list (left calf strain) retroactive to April 9 and recalled RHP Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse. … The Nationals starting pitcher has lasted at least five innings in every game this season. … Milwaukee OF Nyjer Morgan (right thigh bruise) did not start in the first game. Morgan, who was traded to the Brewers from the Nationals in March, grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. … Brewers RHP Zack Greinke (fractured left rib) will travel with the team to Philadelphia, and then leave to make his first rehab start for Class-A Brevard County on Tuesday. … Brewers OF Ryan Braun has reached base in all 14 games this season.