Morse’s two HRs power Nationals past Dodgers, 7-2

“We always say, ‘Next year,’ ” Nationals closer Drew Storen said. “But I think we can do a lot here in the last month to show ‘Hey, we’re for real. Next year is going to be a lot different.’ That’s our biggest thing right now. End this season on a positive and worry about next year, next year.”

Monday afternoon, the Nationals provided an emphatic reversal of their late-season struggle with a 7-2 pounding of the Los Angeles Dodgers before 25,518 at Nationals Park. Michael Morse hit two of the Nationals’ four home runs, three of which came in the first inning. John Lannan allowed one run in 5¹ / ₃ innings before four relievers combined on 3² / ₃ one-run innings.