Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Russell Martin’s two-out double in the eighth inning drove in the only run of the game as Los Angeles subdued New York, 1-0, to finish off a four-game set.
Clayton Kershaw (10-5) worked eight scoreless, allowing seven hits, while walking one and striking out three for the Dodgers, who have won four of their last five.
Kenley Jansen earned his first career save in his second big league outing by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
“Clayton is something special,” said Dodger’s skipper Joe Torre. “He stays focused and knows how to pitch under pressure. He’s learning to pitch instead of overpowering people.”
Pedro Feliciano (2-5) took the loss after yielding the decisive run on two hits in his lone inning of work for the Mets, who return home after a 2-9 road trip to the west coast.
New York starter R.A. Dickey left after 5 2/3 innings with a left leg injury. He allowed two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Casey Blake singled with one out in the eighth and came into score when Martin found the alley in left-center field. Pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard was given an intentional pass before Xavier Paul grounded out to end the inning.
Jansen got Carlos Beltran to pop out to start the ninth and then struck out Jason Bay and Ike Davis to end the game. He has struck out four of the six hitters he has faced in his first two appearances.
Andre Ethier doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch in the fifth but was left there when Blake struck out and Blake DeWitt grounded out. Ethier was the lone runner to advance that far until the eighth inning.
“It’s frustrating right now,” said Mets’ third baseman David Wright about his team’s offensive struggles. “We have good at-bats but we don’t see the results. We’ve got good pitching but we’re not scoring many runs.”
New York has dropped 15 of its last 20 road games…The Mets have been held to four runs or fewer in 15 of their last 16 contests…New York is 11-20 in one-run games, including 6-13 on the road…The Mets have been scored on first in 11 of their last 13 games…Dickey is winless in his last six starts since beating Detroit on June 23…Beltran has one hit in his last 20 at-bats, while Wright is mired in a 3-for-26 slump after going 1-for-4…Wright has one run scored in his last 15 games and has driven in only four runs in his last 18 games…Los Angeles finished its homestand at 4-3 and opens a six-game road trip to San Diego and San Francisco on Tuesday…Kershaw improved to 2-0 in three career starts against the Mets.