Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to a career-high 28 games, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-2 Monday night in the opening game of a three-game set at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw pitched seven strong innings for the win, snapping a two-game losing streak for the Dodgers. The Dodgers have beaten the Cubs in three of four meetings this season, scoring a total of 32 runs.
Ethier extended his streak with an infield single, an RBI hit to the hole at shortstop in the fifth inning off starter James Russell. The Dodgers scored all five runs off Russell, who lasted 4 2/3 innings and lost for the fourth time in as many starts. Kershaw allowed two runs and eight hits in his seven innings, striking out four while walking none.
Rookie Jerry Sands hit a two-run double in the Dodgers' three-run fifth inning rally that broke the game open, and his parents and grandfather were shown often during the broadcast cheering on Sands. The best part came when his grandfather was shown clapping with a 60+ year old Duke Snider model glove. Baseball is such a small world sometimes.
Vicente Padilla and Jonathan Broxton retired all six batters they faced in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to close out the game. It was the first 1-2-3 save for Broxton since April 1. Chad Billingsley and Ryan Dempster face off Tuesday night in the second game of the series.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.