The Dodgers went out on Sunday and did what they've done better than any other team so far this season: take care of business on the field. A 6-0 let them cruise to a 7-4 win, their 56th of the season.
There's a lot to like about the way the Dodgers won this game. First of all, they were far away from Los Angeles, and could have easily packed it in and called it a break. Instead, they were the ones who looked like they still had something to prove, starting the game with a quick 2-0 advantage.
Rafael Furcal started things with a walk. After Andre Ethier struck out, Manny Ramirez lifted a long fly ball to right. Corey Hart must have lost it in the sun, or never thought he'd catch it to begin with, because he let it drop near the wall, putting runners on first and second.
Casey Blake then walked as well, loading the bases, something that happens a lot to this team. James Loney didn't exactly crush the ball, but he placed it perfectly into center to score Furcal. An error by Mike Cameron on the play let Manny score as well.
Both teams didn't make any noise until the Dodgers struck again in the fourth. And wouldn't you know it, Brad Ausmus of all people hit a solo home run for the 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, Ethier singled and Manny walked with one down, and both advanced on a wild pitch from Yovani Gallardo. Blake hit an RBI groundout, followed by another single from Loney for the 5-0 lead.
After that, it became the Orlando Hudson Show. He hit home runs from both sides of the plate for the first time in his career. The one from the left side came in the sixth, and the right side in the eighth. The All-Star ended his first half with a bang.
Hiroki Kuroda was given some relief time to get in some work, and was hit around. Clayton Kershaw's last batter was a double to Cameron to start the seventh, and Kuroda was summoned. Four runs total were scored off of him in 1 and 1/3 innings. James McDonald had to get the last two outs to get out of the eighth.
Ramon Troncoso was given the save opportunity, and it got somewhat interesting. Two runners reached for Ryan Braun, who was the tying run. But, Braun popped up to Raffy, and that was it. It was the fifth save for Troncoso.
The win gave the Dodgers two of three in Milwaukee, making this the fourth straight series they've won. A rare loss by the Giants will give the Dodgers a comfortable seven game lead in the NL West.
Kershaw deserves a ton of credit for this one. He started the game with the bases loaded thanks to a double and two walks. On a full count, he struck out Cameron. From there, he was just awesome. He finished with six innings pitched, two hits, one run, five walks, and four strikeouts. That's now six straight great starts, gathering four wins in the process.
The All-Star break is now here, where Chad Billingsley and Hudson will be in St. Louis. Jonathan Broxton will be there, but won't participate with a toe injury. Once games resume, the Dodgers will open a nine-game homestand, starting with the Astros for four.
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