Kershaw sharp as Dodgers cut up Diamondbacks 7-2
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 and pitched two-hit ball over seven innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers ended an 11-game losing streak against Arizona in the regular season, beating the Diamondbacks 7-2 on Sunday.
Los Angeles had been 0-5 versus the Diamondbacks this year, and hadn't beaten them in the regular season since last August. But the Dodgers swept Arizona 3-0 last year in the NL Division Series.
Chris Taylor homered, doubled and drove in three runs to help the Dodgers stop a three-game skid. The Diamondbacks, who had won three in row, finished a 6-3 road trip.
Kershaw (1-2) gave up one run, on Paul Goldschmidt's leadoff homer in the seventh, and has a 1.73 ERA after four starts. The Dodgers totaled just three runs in three previous starts this season by their ace lefty.
This was the ninth time Kershaw has struck out at least 12 in a game without issuing a walk. It was his 59th game with double-digit strikeouts.
Kershaw struck out two batters in each of the first six innings. Overall, he has fanned 31 with just three walks this year.
Kershaw improved his career record to 9-1 at Dodger Stadium against Arizona. The only other hit he allowed was a two-out double by David Peralta in the third.
Zack Godley (2-1), who led the National League with a 0.64 ERA entering the game, gave six runs on five hits and six walks in four innings.
Yasiel Puig's two-run single highlighted a threerun third that made it 4-0.
Taylor homered in the fourth and added a tworun double in the fifth.
PADRES 10, GIANTS 1.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joey Lucchesi struck out nine in six innings, fellow rookie Christian Villanueva homered, doubled and drove in three runs, and the San Diego Padres cruised past San Francisco 10-1 on Sunday to beat the Giants for the third straight game.
Jose Pirela was a home run short of the cycle and had three RBIs for the Padres, who have won five of seven. The Giants have lost four of five.
Lucchesi (2-0) was sharp in outpitching Tyler Beede (0-1) in a matchup of 24-year-old rookies. Lucchesi walked none and his nine strikeouts were his most in four big league starts. The lefty allowed one run and five hits.
Lucchesi became the first pitcher from the 2016 draft class to reach the majors after Dinelson Lamet hurt his right elbow in his final spring training start for the Padres. Lucchesi got a no-decision in his big league debut March 30 against Milwaukee and again in a home start versus the Rockies on April 5 before earning his first win at Colorado on Tuesday.
Lamet will have reconstructive elbow surgery this week.
Beede lasted only 3 2/3 innings, permitting five runs and six hits while striking out six and walking three.
Villanueva hit a two-run double in the third and homered off Josh Osich leading off the fifth, his fifth. Villanueva also homered in a 5-4 victory Saturday night.
The Padres chased Beede in their three-run fourth. Cory Spangenberg and Pirela hit RBI doubles, and Freddy Galvis had an RBI single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: C Buster Posey has a sore thumb but should be OK to play Tuesday night after an off day Monday . ... RHP Jeff Samardzija, on the disabled list with a strained right pectoral muscle, likely will make another rehab start.