noby could have a breakout season and gives IU that defensive toughness

WASHINGTON -- On the day the Dodgers announced Clayton Kershaw suffered an injury setback, the lineup and starter Scott Kazmir stepped up. Some cramp-curing pickle juice and spicy mustard helped as well.Chase Utley drove in three runs with three hits, including a leadoff homer that quickly spoiled Reynaldo Lopezs major league debut and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.Los Angeles swept three games from Washington at home in June and has won six straight in the series.Scott Kazmir (8-3) gave up one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight. He extended his unbeaten streak to 12 starts, going 6-0 in that span.The Dodgers also improved to 12-6 since their ace pitcher was placed on the disabled list.With what were going through, guys have to step up, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. It starts with starting pitching. It was a great outing by (Kazmir). Everything was working.Lopez (0-1), considered one of Washingtons top prospects, allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine, featuring a fastball in the upper 90s mph.The NL East-leading Nationals lost their second in a row following a five-game winning streak.Daniel Murphy doubled twice in his first start since the All-Star break. Murphy, who began the day as the top hitter in the majors, had been slowed by a hamstring injury.The Nationals promoted Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse before the game. Utley hit the rookies third pitch over the right-center wall before the sellout crowd.Howie Kendricks opposite-field single extended his hitting streak to 11 games and Justin Turner doubled before Lopez retired a batter.Joc Pederson, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, hit a two-run, two-out single for a 3-0 lead in the first.We liked what we saw, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of Lopez. I am sure it shocked him to have his first big-league hitter hit the ball out of the park.Despite the early struggles, Lopez struck out at least one batter in every inning, fanned the side in the third and Grandal three times.I was very excited at first and I felt a little nervous, Lopez said. I just had a better feel for my pitches (as the game went on) and that allowed for it to come to me a little better.Grandal homered and Turner had three hits.Jose Lobaton homered for the Nationals and Trea Turner hit a two-run triple.Yasiel Puigs RBI single in the fifth put the Dodgers up 6-0 and ended the Lopezs outing.Cruising with a 6-0 lead in the fifth, Kazmir landed awkwardly after jumping to field Danny Espinosas groundout. Lobaton then homered.The postgame explanation, cramps. The cure? Electrolyte drink, pickle juice, some spicy mustard, Kazmir explained sheepishly. (The trainers) know a lot more than I do and it worked.WOWIE, HOWIEKendrick went 2 for 4 with a walk. During the 11-game streak, he is batting .454 (20 for 44) with five doubles, a home run and six RBI.OUT OF POSITIONMurphy, Washingtons regular second baseman, committed a throwing error in his first start this season at third base with Anthony Rendon (illness) sidelined for a second straight game.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said ace Clayton Kershaw, out since June 27 because of mild disk herniation, will remain on the disabled list after feeling discomfort following a throwing session on Saturday.Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) threw around 35 pitches before Tuesdays game, manager Dusty Baker said. Barring any setbacks, the right-hander is expected to increase his workload over the weekend in the minors.UP NEXTDodgers: Based on the Kershaw situation, Roberts moved RHP Bud Norris (5-7, 4.17) up one day in the rotation.Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-8, 4.70) is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA over his last four starts against the Dodgers. Authentic Custom Thunder Jersey . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Wholesale Custom Thunder Shirts . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. http://www.customthunderjersey.com/ . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Cheap Thunder Jerseys . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Custom Thunder Jersey . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. No. 13 Michigan State | No. 15 NC State | Full ListNo. 14: INDIANA HOOSIERSLast season: 27-8, 15-3 Big TenThe Yogi Ferrell era is over, and now itll be up to Tom Crean to find a point guard situation that works in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have plenty of offense still with James Blackmon Jr. and Robert Johnson on the perimeter and Thomas Bryant in the post. OG Anunoby could have a breakout season and gives IU that defensive toughness.?-- Jeff GoodmanBest case:?Tom Crean has taken a program in crisis to a program that can be expected to contend. Indiana lost a program pillar in Yogi Ferrell, and that leadership and steady presence is difficult to duplicate. But Indiana has talent and the Hoosiers are very well coached. They were left for dead last season and declared the worst defensive team in Indiana history. But the Hooosiers kept plugging, limited turnovers (which automatically improved the defense) and won the Big Ten for the second time in five years.dddddddddddd This season, James Blackmon is back to add scoring, OG Anunoby is among the nations best defenders and Thomas Bryant should be among the nations very best big men.Worst case:?First-weekend casualty. Without a natural point guard to replace Ferrell, Crean will be relying upon Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk to take over. While that wont be the same, Indiana will still be good. This is a tournament team, but the worst case is an early exit. Just dont expect the worst case. Indiana has proved to be much tougher than that.No. 15 NC State | Full List ' ' '