LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts wouldn’t miss twice.

After coming oh so close to hitting a homer in the sixth inning — that Daylen Lile saved with an impressive catch at the wall — Betts ensured this ball would go over the left-field fence. With his hit, Dodger Stadium came alive and the momentum changed.

Even as the Dodgers look vulnerable in their quest for a three-peat, they still showed that championship resolve over the past two games, in which their bats came alive late.

No matter the situation, the Dodgers showed their clutch gene in their three-game sweep against the Nationals. Will Dion, who’s been a Swiss Army knife for the club this season, allowed the go-ahead, three-run blast to Betts that sunk the Nationals in their 7-5 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday night.

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It was the Nationals’ 37th blown save of the season, tying the major league record.

The shaky bullpen gave up leads the past two nights. Left-hander Andrew Alvarez made a solid start, throwing 4 1/3 innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts and two walks.

But, once Alvarez was relieved in the fifth, things became dicey for Washington. Brad Lord, who had been one of the team’s trusted relievers until a recent ineffective stretch, struggled finding the strike zone. A one-out RBI double by Tommy Edman trimmed the Nationals’ lead to two, but Lord induced a groundout from Betts in the next at-bat before allowing three consecutive singles that tied the game.

The Nationals head to San Diego on Monday for a three-game set against the Padres.