Kershaw Gets 16th Win As Dodgers Beat Diamondbacks, 3-1
PHOENIX (CBSLA.com/AP) — Clayton Kershaw allowed only an unearned run in eight innings to become the first 16-game winner in the majors, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Kershaw (16-3) allowed six hits, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced, seven by strikeout, to improve to 13-1 in his last 16 starts.
The left-handed ace struck out 10 and walked two.
Scott Van Slyke hit a solo home run off Wade Miley (7-10) before leaving the game with an ankle injury in the fourth inning. Matt Kemp had a two-run double.
Kenley Janzen pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save in 42 tries.
The Dodgers, sweeping the two-game series, climbed to a season-high 18 games above .500.
Kershaw, who, according to DodgerInsider pitched for the first time this season with the bases loaded, reached double digit strikeouts for the third straight outing, pitching out of jams in the third and fifth innings. He has gone at least seven innings in all but one of his last 16 starts.
Arizona loaded the bases with one out in the third, but Aaron Hill popped out and Mark Trumbo struck out.
The Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte tripled to lead off the fifth, then Kershaw retired the next 11 before Trumbo's two-out single in the eighth. Kershaw ended his night by striking out Alfredo Marte to end the eighth.
Los Angeles scored all three runs in the third.
Kemp doubled in two runs but was out by a considerable margin trying to stretch it to a triple. On Miley's next pitch, Van Slyke homered just over the left field wall. Van Slyke is 8 for 18 with five home runs against Miley this season.
Arizona's Marte doubled down the left field line to lead off the fourth. Jordan Pacheco followed with a single to left. Van Slyke fielded the ball and launched what should have been a routine throw back to the infield.
But he rolled his ankle as he threw, allowing the unearned run to score.
The Dodgers called it a "mild" sprain.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: 1B Adrian Gonzalez had the night off with a stiff back. ... LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, hip strain, pitched a simulated game Wednesday and is expected to rejoin the rotation Sunday or Monday.
Diamondacks: RHP Daniel Hudson, recovering from two Tommy John surgeries, pitched a perfect inning at Triple-A Reno Wednesday night.
ON DECK
Dodgers: Los Angeles has Thursday off before opening a three-game series at San Diego. Dan Haren (11-10, 4.44 ERA) goes for the Dodgers against Andrew Cashner (2-6, 2.43).
Diamondbacks: Arizona is off Thursday before beginning a three-game series against Colorado in a matchup of the teams with the two worst records in the National League.
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