The Dodgers didn't get their third straight shutout, but settled for a 6-1 win over the Tigers Tuesday night that featured a home run by Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp joinging the 20-20 club, and Hong-Chih Kuo making a successful return to the mound. Chad Billingsley, after struggling in three June starts, picked up a win by allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings. Max Scherzer took the loss for Detroit, allowing six runs in six innings.
Kemp stole second and third base in the seventh inning, giving him 20 stolen bases to go along with his 20 home runs this season. He is the second Dodger ever with 20 homers and 20 steals before the All-Star break, joining Davey Lopes in 1979, and Kemp is the only Dodger to hit the 20-20 mark before the halfway point of the season.
Kuo, who last pitched for the Dodgers on May 9 before going on the disabled list with what was termed an anxiety disorder, returned from "the yips" in fine fashion tonight. Kuo pitched the eighth inning, and struck out the first hitter he faced, Brennan Boesch. Kuo allowed two lazy fly balls to end the inning, throwing nine pitches, including seven for strikes.
Ethier slammed a 3-0 pitch from Scherzer into the right field pavilion in the fifth inning for a two-run home run to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. The Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the sixth on RBI doubles by Trent Oeltjen and Dee Gordon. Aaron Miles had two hits and a walk for the Dodgers, and has 20 hits in his last 40 at-bats.
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