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.Bob Horner Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Custom Atlanta Braves Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. https://www.cheapbraves.com/ .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Greg Maddux Braves Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Rico Carty Braves Jersey . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No.Nick Dougherty discusses the misconceptions about Rory McIlroys training regime and looks back on an impressive start to the week at Riviera for the world No 3.The main reason for all of this injury talk is a bit of a misunderstanding to be honest and the problem is the link to Tiger Woods.People see Woods as someone who has trained really hard and see that Rorys doing the same and has changed the way he looks, so assume the same is going to happen injury-wise. That isnt the case - they have two completely different body types and are two guys who are achieving completely different things. Rory plays down risks Rory McIlroy dismisses comments about his training regime We saw Woods change his body type over the years, as he went from being a really slender guy who hit the ball an absolute miles to someone with huge amount of mass on his body. It changed the way he played and he actually hit the ball shorter and picked up lots of injuries since.Brandel Chamblee is a player from a different generation who is a very well respected pundit in the golfing world, but he criticised what Rory was doing and linked it to Tiger when theyre so different. McIlroy is making his tournament debut this week What McIlroys doing is building functional movement and a lot of that is helping him to develop his ballistic power. Were seeing him doing lots of squatting and huge amounts of weights as well, which allows him to transfer more energy through his body and in to the club and golf ball.Hes one of the longest hitters in the game and you have to say since Rory McIlroy started training, its had the opposite effect to what it had with Tiger Woods. You have to say since Rory McIlroy started training, its had the opposite effect to what it had with Tiger Woods.dddddddddddd. Nick Dougherty McIlroy hits the ball a lot further and more importantly to Rory having spoken to him is that hes staying injury-free. He used to have a bad back before he started to change his physique.He has been working really hard on his fitness, both in his training and in what he eats as well, and since he has made these changes his game has improved.He won his first major the year he started this sort of training, so the decisions about his routine and gym work have all been backed up by great results. McIlory is searching for a first win of 2016 this week Strong startMcIlroy played great today and when we spoke to him he was really happy with his first round performance. He worked hard on his golf swing in the off-season and hes in great form heading in to five of the next six tournaments.Its his first time here at Riviera but he loves the golf course. He feels great about his chances this week and is desperate to get that world No 1 spot back. Everyone raves about this place. The golf course is one thing but theres a great amount of history here. It has been around for a long time and some of golfs greats have all won here.The likes of Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson are all winners here, while the likes of Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson have achieved it in the modern era, so McIlroy wants to add his name to that list on the trophy.Watch the Northern Trust Open throughout the week on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golfAlso See:Encouraging start for RoryRory dismisses gym concernsMasters on McIlroys mindNorthern Trust Open leaders ' ' '