Kershaw Strikes Out 13, Wins Seventh Straight By Beating Giants 3-2
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw struck out 13 in eight innings, Justin Turner hit a go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Friday night.
Kershaw (9-1) outdueled Johnny Cueto to improve to 7-0 over his last eight starts, and with 82 Ks to just three walks during that stretch since an April 26 loss to Miami. He is 3-0 in six road starts.
Turner hit a 2-1 pitch from Santiago Casilla (1-2) to left field to start the ninth and the Dodgers shaved a game off the Giants' NL West lead to pull within three — though both clubs know this race surely will be decided down the stretch.
The Dodgers have won the last five games against the Giants when Kershaw pitches, and the lefty is 18-7 in 33 starts facing rival San Francisco.
Kenley Jansen allowed Brandon Belt's two-out double in the ninth followed by a walk to pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco before striking out Brandon Crawford on a 3-2 pitch for his 17th save.
The Dodgers improved to 12-1 in Kershaw's outings, while the Giants dropped to 11-2 when Cueto takes the mound. He had beaten Los Angeles in consecutive April starts.
Cueto, who was trying to become the majors' third 10-game winner of the night after Washington's Stephen Strasburg and Chris Sale of the White Sox, had his home scoreless streak of 29 1/3 innings snapped in the first when he fell behind 2-0.
The right-hander struck out eight in eight innings, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks.
The Dodgers went ahead on a balk that Cueto and manager Bruce Bochy debated with plate umpire D.J. Reyburn, then added on with Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single.
Matt Duffy homered in the bottom of the first, sending an 0-1 pitch into the left-field bleachers for just the fifth long ball given up by Los Angeles' ace, and Buster Posey hit a tying double in the sixth.
Posey was back in the lineup to catch him after missing three straight games with an irritated nerve in his right thumb, but with two off days, he had five days of rest. He received an injection in the area Sunday.
The Dodgers challenged a ball call against Chase Utley in the fifth that actually hit Utley, and it was overturned after about a minute. Cueto then retired the final 10 hitters he faced in order.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RF Yasiel Puig, on the disabled list since June 3 with a strained left hamstring, will join Class A Rancho Cucamonga at home Monday with the hope he will be activated June 20 against the Nationals. Puig has been working in the batting cage on "shortening his stroke," manager Dave Roberts said. When Puig is ready, Roberts will still try to get Trayce Thompson regular playing time, but Puig's defense and strong arm are too valuable to keep him out of the lineup. ... RHP Brandon McCarthy is slated to make his first rehab start and go two innings Saturday at Rancho Cucamonga as he works back from Tommy John surgery.
Giants: INF Kelby Tomlinson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb that happened on a dive Wednesday against Boston but didn't initially become problematic. He will need a splint for about two weeks. ... RF Hunter Pence underwent surgery Thursday on his torn right hamstring in Dallas and all went smoothly and as planned. He was expected back in the Bay Area on Friday night and at the ballpark Saturday. ... RHP Sergio Romo (elbow strain), who was transferred to the 60-day DL to make room for the callup of INF Ramiro Pena from Triple-A Sacramento, could throw off the mound Saturday. ... LF Angel Pagan (left hamstring strain) will begin a three-game rehab assignment with Sacramento beginning Saturday night in El Paso, Texas.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.46 ERA) is 2-0 with 24 strikeouts and four walks in 17 innings over his last three starts.
Giants: Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 3.33) looks to bounce back from a loss at St. Louis in which he surrendered season highs of six runs and nine hits. He is 1-3 in five career outings — three starts — vs. L.A.
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