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. Sony Michel Youth Jersey .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Andre Tippett Youth Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Tedy-Bruschi-Inverted-Jersey/ . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Sony Michel Patriots Jersey . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. Irving Fryar Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. The Washington Nationals activated first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-day disabled list before Tuesdays game against the Cleveland Indians.Zimmerman, who has been sidelined since July 7 with a strained rib cage, was in the lineup Tuesday batting seventh.The Nationals made a series of other moves Tuesday, activating left-hander Sammy Solis from the DL and optioning outfielder Michael Taylor and right-hander Lucas Giolito to Triple-A Syracuse.Taylor is batting .222 with seven home runs and 12 stolen bases in 66 games as a platoon player this season. His demotion opens playing time for top prospect Trea Turner, who has primarily played shortstop or second base but will start in center field Tuesday.Zimmerman, 31, has been struggling through the worst season of his 12-year career. He entered Tuesdays contest with a career-low .2211 average, 12 home runs and 38 RBIs.ddddddddddddZimmerman recently completed a rehab assignment at Class A Potomac, where he batted .417 (5-for-12) with a homer and five RBIs. Although he hasnt hit for a high average, Zimmerman has been clutch -- 12 of his RBIs have given the Nationals the lead or been game winners.Giolito, the Nationals top overall prospect, made his third career start Sunday, allowing four runs in just 3 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres. The 22-year-old Giolito has a 4.91 ERA in three starts with the Nationals this season.Solis, who was sidelined 13 games because of an inflamed right knee, has a 2.43 ERA in 25 games for Washington.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '