Gwynn snaps tie in 9th as Dodgers take Game 1

WASHINGTON -- Tony Gwynn hit a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday.Gwynn drove in Jerry Sands and Rod Barajas with a long double to center off Drew Storen (6-3). Dee Gordon added a run-scoring single -- setting a career high with his fourth hit of the game. Mike MacDougal (3-1), the Dodgers' sixth pitcher, worked a scoreless eighth for the win. Javy Guerra pitched the ninth for his 16th save. Six Los Angeles relievers held Washington hitless over the last 6 1/3 innings.Juan Rivera hit two-run doubles in the first and third off Chien-Ming Wang to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.The Nationals tied the score at 4 in the bottom of the third off Chad Billingsley. Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse hit RBI doubles and Jayson Werth had a two-run home run -- his 19th.Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly yanked Billingsley after 2 1/3 -- his shortest start in more than two years.Game notes Dodgers OF Andre Ethier was shut down for the season. He'll get his ailing right knee examined by Dr. James Andrews. "I'm just trying to figure this whole thing out right now and figure out a way to get it better where it won't affect me for spring training," Ethier said. Ethier had a 30-game hitting streak -- the second longest in team history and the second longest in the major leagues this season. ... Washington manager Davey Johnson said he was resting 2B Danny Espinosa, who this week set a team record with seven straight strikeouts, because he was mentally tired. Stephen Lombardozzi got his first major league start. ... Johnson said that C Ivan Rodriguez, who was on the disabled list for nearly two months with an oblique strain, will be limited to pinch-hitting for the remainder of the season. He wants to see more of Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores. ... Nats prospect Bryce Harper, who has a strained hamstring, won't play in the Eastern League playoffs. ... Washington begins a three-game series with Houston on Friday. LHP Tom Millone (0-0), who hit a home run on his first major league pitch last Saturday, will pitch against RHP Bud Norris (6-9). ... Los Angeles opens a three-game series in San Francisco. LHP Clayton Kershaw (17-5) faces RHP Tim Lincecum (12-12).