nfirmed earlier this month that they were close to being signed. Assistant boss Craig

WASHINGTON -- A hot streak and a home run earlier in the afternoon earned Justin Turner the green light on Stephen Strasburg. He made the most of it.Turner homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over Strasburg and the Washington Nationals on Thursday. The two- and three-run home runs got Turner to a career-high 17 on the season and helped Los Angeles beat Washington for the fifth time in six games.Turner is hitting .323 with four doubles, six home runs and 16 RBI in July. Catcher A.J. Ellis called the third baseman one of the Dodgers team MVPs.Its almost like its not even a hot streak anymore, Ellis said. This is just who J.T is.Turners two home runs and Adrian Gonzalezs RBI double were enough to hand Strasburg (13-1) his first loss of the season and end his streak of winning decisions at 16. Its Strasburgs first loss since Sept. 9.The guys had a great game plan, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. I thought that they stressed Stras early, and we hit a couple balls out of the ballpark.Turner, who hit a 3-2 cutter deep to left center in the first inning for his two-run shot and then a 3-0 fastball to center in the third for his three-run shot, said he has been healthy all season but is feeling comfortable again.He looked plenty comfortable against Strasburg, who allowed a season-high six earned runs on seven hits but also struck out 10 and allowed just one base runner in his final three innings.It was just a couple of pitches where I just didnt execute when I needed to, and I got beat on them, said Strasburg, who threw 103 pitches in six innings. Once I got past those first couple innings I started throwing more first-pitch strikes.Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias was strong in allowing one run on five hits in four innings. The 19-year-old top pitching prospect was lifted after 77 pitches but did his job of taking care of Nationals hitters Daniel Murphy, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon.I tried to focus, 1-9 are all good batters, Urias said through an interpreter. But we all know the type of batters that are at the heart of the order and I try to focus and do my job.The Dodgers bullpen did its job, too, as seven relievers combined for five innings. Left-hander Adam Liberatore (2-0) got the win, and Kenley Jansen recorded his 28th save.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: OF Yasiel Puig left the game with right hamstring tightness that occurred when he tried to leg out a grounder as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Roberts said he didnt know the severity of the injury. ... All-Star SS Corey Seager missed his third consecutive game because of a stomach virus. Roberts said Seager was feeling stronger but didnt want to play him a full game in 90-degree heat and humidity.Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (left rib cage sprain) was set to start a rehab stint at Class A Potomac on Thursday night. Manager Dusty Baker said hed like Zimmerman to play three minor-league games and return Tuesday in Cleveland. ... RHP Joe Ross (shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session prior to the game.KENDRICK TO 13Howie Kendrick singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.Where weve kind of held ourselves and stayed above water, Howies been a big part of it, Roberts said.WERTH THE RESTOriginally listed in the starting lineup, Jayson Werth was a late scratch when Baker said he woke up at 3:30 a.m. and changed it to give the outfielder a rest. Werth had a pinch-hit double in the eighth to extend his on-base streak to 25 games.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.69 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series in St. Louis against RHP Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.45)Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (9-5, 2.82) continues his impressive season against the San Diego Padres, who are scheduled to start RHP Luis Perdomo (3-4, 7.36) in the series opener at Nationals Park. Jordan Eberle Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Mike Bossy Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-mike-bossy-islanders-jersey/ .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Adam Pelech Islanders Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Billy Smith Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Paul Roos is upbeat Melbourne wont be going through the motions during his final month as an AFL coach.Roos will coach the Demons for five more games before handing the reins over to assistant Simon Goodwin.The 53-year-old has already achieved plenty in his three years at the club but remains desperate to make further improvements in 2016.Last weeks one-goal loss to West Coast in Perth has filled Roos with belief that his players share the same mindset, despite the carrot of finals being taken away.Going over there after a six-day break, against a really good team that is fighting for a position in the top eight. Theyre always the danger games, Roos said.As is every game in the last four or five weeks. Because you dont know the mindset of the players.Weve got a great opportunity for five weeks to get real improvement ... really deliver a brand of footy that we can sustain next year, the year after and the year after that.Roos said he would work with the clubs leadership group to ensure players continue to ttoil hard.ddddddddddddTheres a lot of reasons to play well in the last five weeks but certainly youre keeping an eye on all the players and making sure theyre not dropping off in any area, he said.Melbourne host Gold Coast on Sunday, when defender Tom McDonald will play his 100th game and match up on potent Suns forward Tom Lynch.Thats going to be a pivotal battle and one were hoping to win because Lynch has been terrific for them, Roos said.Tom is used to playing on the best players in the competition and generally does pretty well.Roos has ruled out the prospect of coaching a third club and is yet to agree on a role with the Demons for 2017.The man who helped break Sydneys 72-year premiership drought in 2005 noted he was unlikely to become very sentimental about the impending end of his coaching career.You get stuck in the weekly routine and dont think too far ahead, Roos said. 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