The Dodgers started Saturday night's game by doing something they really needed to do: hold the Astros scoreless and put a couple runs on the board themselves. They never looked back, as Kershaw went seven strong for the win, 5-2.
After getting slapped around by the Astros for the first two games after the All-Star break, the Dodgers needed someone to step up and end the slide. As they've done all year after losing two straight, they turned things around for a win. Still, the Dodgers are the only team in baseball to not lose three straight games.
Rafael Furcal opened the bottom of the first with a single. Orlando Hudson then ripped one to left that just bounced in front of a sliding Carlos Lee, rolling all the way to the wall for an RBI triple. Matt Kemp's RBI single to left an out later made it 2-0.
That's how the score would stay until the sixth, when things got crazy for a moment. O-Dog singled and Manny doubled with one out for two runners on. Casey Blake was given the intentional pass to load the bases with one down. Kemp hit a soft grounder that scored Hudson for the 3-0 lead.
Mark Loretta started at first for James Loney and came through with an RBI single, and it was 4-0. On the play, Kemp went to third, and Loretta was on first. Mike Hampton, apparently mad that he gave up a couple runs, took the ball from the catcher and tried to fire it into his glove.
Well... he missed, and it rolled to the wall near the Astros dugout. Kemp was paying attention and easily trotted home. Since time was never called, the run counted, and that was it for Hampton.
Up 5-0 in the eighth, Kershaw was pulled after giving up only two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. James McDonald came on with a chance to get some outs... and proceeded to give up two straight hits for a run. He got yanked by an angry Joe Torre.
Brent Leach and Ramon Troncoso were able to hold the Astros to a couple of runs. Jonathan Broxton came in to close, and again found himself in trouble by walking Miguel Tejada leading off. A hit and a walk later, and the bases were loaded. Thankfully in between all of that, he managed to strike out the side, getting his 21st save.
As for Kershaw, he's clearly taking over the team ace roll as Chad Billingsley continues to struggle. He's 5-0 with an incredible 0.75 ERA in his last seven starts. Whoa. Those stats are just stunning. I'd say he's more than meeting his potential at this point.
The Dodgers will look to split the series today by sending Hiroki Kuroda to the mound. He hasn't done much of anything lately, so he's another guy trying to figure things out. Today would be a good day for that.
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