Los Angeles

Clayton Kershaw K's Cubs 4-1 in Chase Utley's Homecoming

Clayton Kershaw struck out 14 and Chase Utley scored and knocked in a run in his Los Angeles homecoming as the Dodgers won their fourth straight game, 4-1 over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

Clayton Kershaw struck out a season-high 14 batters and Chase Utley scored and knocked in a run in his Los Angeles homecoming as the Dodgers won their fourth straight game, 4-1 over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

The 14 strikeouts were Kershaw's 11th double-digit strikeout game this season, tied for the most in his career. Kershaw leads the major leagues with 236 strikeouts on the season, just 12 shy of his career-mark of 248 set in 2011.

"The Cubs are known to strikeout or hit homers," Kershaw said of the high strikeout total. "An out's an out, it doesn't really matter how you get it. Leading the league in outs is good though."

Kershaw (11-6) allowed one run on three hits in eight dominant innings. His only blemish came on a home run to Anthony Rizzo, just his fourth home run surrendered to a left-handed hitter.

Rizzo's rocket shot travelled 441 feet to dead center and was the longest homer allowed in Kershaw's career. The solo blast was also the first run allowed by Kershaw at Dodger Stadium since July 3.

"He hit it really far," Kershaw joked. "He's a good hitter. It was 3-2, I challenged him and he made me pay. As long as it's a solo homer, I'm okay."

Kershaw is unbeaten in his last 10 starts posting a record of 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA with nine strikeouts and just eight walks.

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"It's really pick your poison when you face Kershaw," Cubs' catcher Miguel Montero said after the game. "Fastball, breaking ball, curveball – he's effective with all three and doesn't make too many mistakes. He's the best lefty in the game and the best pitcher as well. He's nasty."

The Dodgers middle infield duo of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley put the Dodgers on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Rollins hit a one-out single and scored two pitches later after a triple to the gap by Utley.

Utley finished 1-for-3 with an RBI triple and a run scored in his homecoming. Utley grew up a Dodger fan in nearby Pasadena.

"It's no secret that I grew up watching the Dodgers play," Utley said. "Being from Southern California, I was a big fan so wearing a Dodgers uniform is pretty special. It was pretty cool."

LA put up three in the third inning thanks to some haphazard pitching by Jason Hammel. After a leadoff walk to Utley, Adrian Gonzalez singled to give the Dodgers runners at first and second with no outs.

Hammel (7-6) threw a wild pitch that bounced off Montero's chest and into his glove. Montero threw to third to catch Utley, but his throw went wild allowing Utley to score. One pitch later, Gonzalez took third on another wild pitch by Hammel.

The Cubs right-hander made allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. It was Hammel's 25th start of the season and he seems to be struggling down the stretch posting a 5.44 ERA over his last seven starts.

"It had the feelings of a good pitchers' duel," Hammel said. "Kershaw was locked in from the first pitch, and I felt good too. But I was kind of the first one to blink."

Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth for his 26th save of the season. Jansen is 26-for-28 in save opportunities this season.

Game Notes:
During a break in the second inning, the Dodgers announced in a prepared video that Vin Scully would return to the broadcast booth to call Dodger games in 2016.

Yasiel Puig was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game and the Dodgers recalled Jose Peraza from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Fernando Rodney made his Chicago Cubs debut after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners on waivers on Thursday.

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