LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw threw eight shutout innings and struck out eight, boosting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night in front of 44,911 at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw retired the first 16 batters he faced before Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor smacked a one-out double off the wall in center in the sixth inning. Kershaw (10-2), who had his 37-inning scoreless streak snapped in his previous start against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday, reached double digits in wins for the sixth year in a row.

The left-hander also topped 200 strikeouts for the sixth straight season, tying the franchise mark set by lefty Sandy Koufax.

Kershaw blanked Washington for the second time in a row. He held the Nationals scoreless for eight innings on three hits with 14 strikeouts on July 18 in a 4-2 Los Angeles win. Kershaw is 9-2 in 13 career games against the Nationals.

Closer Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 23 chances. The Dodgers (64-50) took two of three in the series and four of six against the Nationals (58-55) this season.

Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann almost matched Kershaw, but a mistake to left fielder Carl Crawford cost him. Zimmermann (8-8) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Crawford's RBI single to left brought home center fielder Joc Pederson, who walked and reached second on a fielder's choice, for a 1-0 Los Angeles lead with two outs in the third.

The Dodgers added two runs in the eighth. After Pederson was hit by a pitch, pinch-hitter Andre Ethier doubled to right, advancing Pederson to third. He scored when Washington second baseman Anthony Rendon's relay throw bounced into the stands.

Crawford, who went 3-for-4 with a double, also drove in Ethier with a hit in the eighth to cap the scoring.

NOTES: Nationals OF Bryce Harper returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game with a sore left knee. ... Dodgers 3B Justin Turner (thigh infection) could be activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday or Friday. Turner took batting practice and fielded ground balls before Wednesday's contest. ... Reds RHP Keyvius Sampson (1-1, 3.00 ERA) will face Dodgers RHP Mat Latos (4-8, 4.67 ERA) in the opening game of a four-game set Thursday at Dodger Stadium. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-5, 4.76 ERA) will start against Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (7-8, 4.26 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday at AT&T Park in San Francisco.