Dodgers say torrid pace sustainable
MIAMI— Ace left- hander Clayton Kershaw’s notion that the last five extraordinary weeks are the new normal for the Dodgers seems to be taking hold.
Entering the All- Star break, Kershaw suggested the Dodgers’ surge might not be a surge at all but a sustainable pace. Then they began the second half with a threegame sweep of the Marlins.
The National LeagueWest leaders start a two- game series Tuesday against the White Sox with a nine- game winning streak and the best record in baseball at 64- 29. They have won 29 of their last 33 games (. 879).
‘‘ We’ve been pretty good all year,’’ third baseman Justin Turner said. ‘‘ To say it’s a five- week thing I don’t think is fair to the team.’’
If the Dodgers play .879 ball for the rest of the season, they would finish with 125 victories. Don’t tell them they won’t.
‘‘ I’m starting to think maybe this is just who we are,’’ unbeaten left- hander AlexWood said with a laugh. ‘‘ We have a different guy doing it every night, whether it’s pitching or one of the guys in the lineup. It has been incredible.’’
The Dodgers are 35 games above .500 for the first time since 1977, and their record at the 93- game mark is their best since 1955. The 1955 and 1977 teams reached the World Series.
‘‘ We’re just clicking on all cylinders, man,’’ Wood said.
Even so, there might be room for improvement. The Dodgers widely are expected to swing a deal before the trade deadline to reinforce their pitching, and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who has been out for more than a month because of a herniated disk, is expected back before Sept. 1.
As it is, the Dodgers went into action Monday leading the Diamondbacks by 10 ½ games and the Rockies by 11 ½ in their division.
‘‘ We have really hit our stride,’’ manager Dave Roberts said. ‘‘ We knew going into the season we would be the best team. It was up to us to go out there and prove it.’’