There’s no comeback in these Dodgers, as they fall to Adam Dunn and Nationals, 6-3

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Here’s one nickname you can apparently scratch from the 2010 Dodgers: The Comeback Kids.

That would, naturally, require they actually come from behind to win a game once in awhile. Apparently a trait they’ve failed to master.

Clayton Kershaw couldn’t master Adam Dunn, though otherwise he had a swell night.

Dunn hit a pair of three-run homers off Kershaw to account for all of the Nationals’ runs, as the Dodgers fell 6-3, their eighth loss in their last 10 games.

Dunn, rumored to have been claimed on waivers by the Dodgers earlier in the day, crushed a three-run homer in the first that went an estimated 460 feet.

He came back in the third and duplicated the feat, this time hitting his National League-leading 30th home run of the season off the right-field foul pole.

That left the Dodgers down, 6-0.

There was reason, however, to suspect a comeback could be in the works. The Nationals entered the night 1-10 lifetime at Dodger Stadium. And they started left-hander John Lannan, who had won just one of his last 13 starts.

The closest the Dodgers came to a comeback occurred in the fourth when Ryan Theriot singled and Andre Ethier drilled his 18th home run to right-center.

A James Loney walk, a passed ball and a Casey Blake single gave the Dodgers their third run.

And then the comeback was out of steam.

Not that anyone should exactly be shocked. Of the 48 games the Dodgers trailed after eight innings this season, they’ve come back to win exactly one. They’ve won only four of 43 games they trailed after six innings.

San Diego also lost Friday, so at least the Dodgers remained eight games back in the N.L. West. The Giants won, however, dropping the Dodgers seven games back in the wild-card race.

Kershaw (10-7) went six innings, allowing the six runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out nine. He has, however, lost three of his last four decisions.

Lannan had won one game since April 10 and carried a 5.63 ERA into the game.

But these are the offensively-challenged Dodgers, unable to even seriously get after Lannan. The Dodgers managed five hits off Lannan, sort of their nightly quota, and none against three relievers.

Lannan (3-5) lasted six innings, walked two and struck out two.

-- Steve Dilbeck