Clayton Kershaw only allowed two runs in his eight strong innings on Tuesday night, but that was enough to snap his 10-game winning streak, as the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants 2-1 at Dodger Stadium in the second game of a three-game series.
Kershaw allowed a two-run home run to Brett Pill in the second inning, but recovered to retire 20 of the final 22 batters he faced. Kershaw allowed five hits on the night, and struck out seven.
"This is one of the better days I have felt this season," Kershaw said of his performance Monday night. "They made me pay for two pitches I missed spots with, one to Buster Posey, one to Pill."
The Dodgers scored a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by James Loney, who went 2-for-4 to snap an 0-for-13 slump. The team rallied in the seventh and eighth innings, but a pair of sacrifice bunt attempts foiled the Dodger rallies. Juan Uribe bunted into a double play to end the seventh, then after the bat was taken out of Matt Kemp's hands in the eighth inning via an intentional walk, Andre Ethier grounded into a double play to end the inning.
"I wouldn't really change anything. We just have to execute, that's all," manager Don Mattingly said after the game. "First and second nobody out we have to try to get runners over and get them in scoring position. With Mark, I do it all the time."
Chad Billingsley starts the series finale for the Dodgers on Wednesday, facing Tim Lincecum.
For more news and notes about the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.
