| Advertisement |
TORONTO -- There is not much room for error for a team facing Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. One problem for the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday was that their second baseman, Darwin Barney, committed two errors as well has having two singles and an RBI against the Dodgers left-hander.
Advertisement
Kershaw also provided his own help with 10 strikeouts over seven innings as Los Angeles defeated Toronto 6-2.
"We worked him good, made him throw a lot of pitches early," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Then he kicked it in gear like I'm sure he always does."
Joc Pederson and Justin Turner each hit solo home runs and Adrian Gonzalez added a two-run single for the Dodgers, who won for the third time in their past 11 games.
The Dodgers (15-15), losers in their two previous games, turned three double plays behind Kershaw as they ended a season-best four-game winning streak by the Blue Jays (16-16).
The teams have split the first two games of a three-game interleague series with the rubber game to be played on Sunday.
Kershaw (4-1) allowed eight hits, no walks and two runs while reaching double digits in strikeouts for the fourth start in a row.
"He is human and he doesn't feel his best every time he takes the mound," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Today was one of those days. He still managed 10 punchouts, seven innings.
"That lineup, they're relentless. They grind, they worked his pitch count up. Clayton made a couple of mistakes that they took advantage of, but he have us a good chance to win the game. His fastball command wasn't as sharp as he would like. There were some fastballs in that leaked over the plate."
Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (1-4) is still seeking his first win since April 4 after allowing six hits (including Pederson's home run), one walk and four runs (two earned) in seven innings.
The right-hander struck out three in his longest outing of the season.
Pederson hit his fifth home run of the season with one out in the second inning.
The Blue Jays tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second on singles by Justin Smoak, Troy Tulowitzki and Barney.
The Dodgers scored three runs in the third. Chase Utley and Corey Seager singled and Barney was charged with an error on a bouncer to second by Turner to load the bases with none out.
Utley scored on a passed ball by catcher Josh Thole and Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run single.
"It was another of those kooky innings," Dickey said. "The ball got away from Josh, a couple of infield singles and the next thing you we've got a three-spot that inning. Against a guy like Clay the margin for error ... is very small.
"I didn't arrest the damage in time. In that particular inning it would have been helpful if I had gotten out of it with less than three runs."
Barney hit his second single of the game with one out in the fifth and scored on a two-out double by Kevin Pillar.
"Great team, not only just the talent but the grinding of at-bats," Kershaw said. "They fouled a lot of pitches of today. My pitch count got up there really quickly (112 for the game). Give them a lot of credit on that, they grinded through.
"It was just kind of in and out today. My fastball command wasn't as good as it has been. I was working from behind a lot today, which made it tough. I threw a lot of sliders. Some of them, they might have even thought they were changeups because they weren't really doing anything. Just kind of a weird day for me overall, but I'll take it."
Left-hander Chad Girodo replaced Dickey for the eighth inning and allowed Turner's first home run of the season with two out.
Right-hander Pedro Baez replaced Kershaw for the eighth inning and pitched a perfect inning.
Joe Biagini allowed a run in the ninth inning. The Blue Jays right-hander walked Howie Kendrick with one out. Barney committed his second error of the game when Pederson's potential double play grounder to second skipped past him and Kendrick took third.
Carl Crawford hit a sacrifice fly to left center with Pillar making a spectacular, diving catch.
Right-hander Kenley Jansen pitched the bottom of the ninth for the Dodgers, allowing only a single in the non-save situation.
NOTES: Blue Jays CF Kevin Pillar hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning Friday to end a tie and propel the Blue Jays to a 5-2 victory over the Dodgers. His last three home runs, including both this season, have given Toronto the lead. 1B Justin Smoak was intentionally walked before Pillar homered. It was the second time this season that a player has hit a go-ahead homer after an intentional walk. Oakland Athletics 1B Yonder Alonso hit a three-run walk-off homer April 29 after the Houston Astros intentionally walked OF Coco Crisp. ... Dodgers RHP Mike Bolsinger (oblique) was scheduled to begin his minor league rehabilitation assignment Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Los Angeles RHP Ross Stripling (0-2, 4.33 ERA) will face Toronto RHP Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.64) in the finale of the three-game series Sunday.
