Dodgers' Greinke extends scoreless innings streak to 43 2/3 after dominating Nationals

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke is lining himself up for a nice pay day.

The impending free agent dazzled on the mound once again Sunday in Washington, tossing eight shutout frames to extend his scoreless innings streak to 43 2/3.

Greinke, who outdueled Nationals ace Max Scherzer on the afternoon, last allowed an earned run June 13. Greinke owns the longest scoreless innings streak since former Dodger right-hander Orel Hershiser set the MLB record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings in 1988.

"Just tremendous again," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told reporters. "I think when these kind of guys get together, Scherzer and him, they know they can't give up runs. And it looked like Zack came out of the gate knowing that he had to be sharp. And he was."

The 31-year-old also becomes just the third pitcher since 1914 to throw six straight scoreless starts, joining Hershiser and Don Drysdale.

The National League All-Star team's starter last week, Greinke allowed three hits and one walk Sunday while striking out a season-high 11 on 119 pitches, lowering his league-leading ERA to 1.30. The Dodgers would go on to the 5-0 win.

While Greinke extended one streak, he did see another come to an end: Nationals outfielder Michael Taylor singled in the third inning to snap Greinke's run of retiring 28 consecutive batters.