The Los Angeles Dodgers are managing to keep pace admirably in the National League West. On Saturday night, they won their second straight game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium, 3-1, to stay just a half-game out of first place in the division.
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw held the Cubs to just three hits and two walks over seven innings of work, while striking out seven, to improve to 9-6 with a 2.88 ERA.
The Cubs actually took a brief lead in the game when Alfonso Soriano hit an RBI double off of Kershaw in the fourth inning to make it 1-0 Chicago. The Dodgers made sure that lead was short-lived, as Matt Kemp launched his 16th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth to put L.A. on top, 2-1.
Shane Victorino hit a double and scored on a fielding error in the eighth to give the Dodgers a big insurance run. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 21st save of 2012.
The Dodgers will go for the three-game sweep on Sunday.
For more on the Dodgers, check out True Blue LA. For all the latest on the Cubs, be sure to read than Bleed Cubbie Blue and SB Nation Chicago.
