| SEASON | CAREER |
| W10 | 57 |
| L6 | 34 |
| G24 | 142 |
| IP162.2 | 879.0 |
| BB42 | 320 |
| SO157 | 902 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W7 | 80 |
| L11 | 86 |
| G24 | 230 |
| IP149.2 | 1325.0 |
| BB39 | 461 |
| SO100 | 1104 |
While making a case for his second consecutive NL Cy Young Award, Clayton Kershaw has been giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a major boost in the NL West race.
Wandy Rodriguez hasn't yet delivered the kind of results the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping for as they chase their first playoff berth in 20 years.
These left-handers square off Wednesday night with Rodriguez trying again for his first victory with the Pirates and Kershaw taking another shot at beating Pittsburgh for the first time.
Kershaw (10-6, 2.88 ERA) has been strong for most of the year, but he's been especially sharp in winning his last three starts. He has posted a 1.21 ERA in that stretch, striking out 21 and walking four over 22 1-3 innings.
"He has really been good almost every time out, but he's getting in a little bit of a groove, it seems like," manager Don Mattingly said Friday after Kershaw yielded three hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-2 win at Miami.
Kershaw is 0-1 in five career starts against the Pirates, although he probably deserved a victory against them April 10. He allowed one run and four hits in seven innings of that game, but left with the score tied before the Dodgers won 2-1.
His three starts in Pittsburgh haven't gone as well. Kershaw hasn't worked more than five innings in any of them, posting a 3.95 ERA, although he hasn't pitched there since April 7, 2010.
Rodriguez (7-11, 3.91) pitched at PNC Park for the first time in a Pirates uniform Thursday, allowing four runs in six innings of a 6-3 loss to Arizona. He was leading 3-2 entering the sixth, but Wil Nieves belted a two-run homer with two outs.
That dropped Rodriguez to 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA in three outings since Pittsburgh acquired him from Houston last month. In the last two - both losses - he's allowed seven runs entirely on four homers.
"I don't know what's going on with me - I've lost the last two games on only one pitch," said Rodriguez, who is 0-5 with a 5.66 ERA in six starts overall since the All-Star break.
Perhaps facing Los Angeles will help. Rodriguez has a stellar 2.24 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers, limiting them to three hits over seven innings in a 12-0 win for the Astros on April 22.
Andre Ethier is 3 for 20 (.150) against Rodriguez and Matt Kemp is 5 for 21 (.238), but Hanley Ramirez could throw a wrench in that dominance. During his time with the Marlins, Ramirez was 9 for 22 with four extra-base hits against Rodriguez.
The Pirates (64-52) are desperate for a stopper, having lost five of six - all at home - with their starters posting a 7.15 ERA in that stretch. They have dropped the first two in this four-game set, and their lead for the second NL wild card is down to one-half game over co-West leaders Los Angeles and San Francisco and one game over St. Louis.
"This is our worst patch of play probably during the season," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Every team that I have been on has a patch of play like this. We know what we are dealing with and we have to find a way to turn it around."
The Dodgers (64-53) have won five of six, taking Tuesday's game 11-0 behind an impressive outing by Chad Billingsley and a 3-for-5, three-RBI performance from Luis Cruz . Ramirez was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, his third multihit game in the first five contests on this road trip.
"You've got everybody chipping in," Ramirez said. "Not only one guy, the whole team is going out there and contributing."
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@
AVG
HRRUNSSBSOBBOBPSLGOPS
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Chad Billingsley | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Chris Capuano | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .000 |
| Mark Ellis | 5 | .800 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 1.633 | .800 |
| A.J. Ellis | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Andre Ethier | 20 | .150 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .150 | .350 | .200 |
| Dee Gordon | 6 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Tony Gwynn Jr. | 5 | .800 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .800 | 2.000 | 1.200 |
| Jerry Hairston Jr. | 20 | .400 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | .478 | .928 | .450 |
| Aaron Harang | 12 | .167 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .167 | .334 | .167 |
| Matt Kemp | 21 | .238 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | .346 | .822 | .476 |
| Adam Kennedy | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Ted Lilly | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| James Loney | 13 | .154 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .143 | .297 | .154 |
| Juan Rivera | 8 | .125 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .222 | .722 | .500 |
| Justin Sellers | 2 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1.167 | .500 |
| Matt Treanor | 7 | .143 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .393 | .143 |
| Juan Uribe | 13 | .154 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .214 | .599 | .385 |
| Jamey Wright | 8 | .125 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .125 | .250 | .125 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Rod Barajas | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Clint Barmes | 23 | .217 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | .308 | .656 | .348 |
| Kevin Correia | 7 | .286 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .286 | .572 | .286 |
| Matt Hague | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Garrett Jones | 8 | .250 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .250 | .875 | .625 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 11 | .364 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .364 | .728 | .364 |
| Casey McGehee | 11 | .273 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .385 | .840 | .455 |
| Nate McLouth | 6 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .125 | .125 | .000 |
| Alex Presley | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Jose Tabata | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Neil Walker | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
 Los Angeles Dodgers |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 12, 2012 | Jerry Hairston Jr. | 15-Day DL | Left hip inflammation |
| July 26, 2012 | Adam Kennedy | 15-Day DL | Right groin strain |
| July 26, 2012 | Scott Elbert | 15-Day DL | Left elbow inflammation |
| July 26, 2012 | Adam Kennedy | 15-Day DL | Right groin strain |
| July 08, 2012 | Chad Billingsley | 15-Day DL | Right elbow inflammation |
| July 08, 2012 | Chad Billingsley | 15-Day DL | Right elbow inflammation |
 Pittsburgh Pirates |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 14, 2012 | Travis Snider | Day-to-Day | Left game - Aggravated right hamstring |
| July 18, 2012 | Juan Cruz | 15-Day DL | Right shoulder inflammation |
| July 18, 2012 | Juan Cruz | 15-Day DL | Right shoulder inflammation |
| July 05, 2012 | Alex Presley | 7-Day DL | Concussion |
| July 05, 2012 | Alex Presley | 7-Day DL | Concussion |
| June 30, 2012 | Andrew McCutchen | Day-to-Day | Left game - sprained left wrist |
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers used their entire lineup to take over sole possession of first place in the NL West.
Clayton Kershaw won his fourth consecutive start, Matt Kemp drove in three runs and the Dodgers won their fourth consecutive game, 9-3 over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
Eight Los Angeles players scored at least one run and seven had an RBI.
"We're a pretty dangerous ballclub right now," Kemp said.
The Dodgers beat the Pirates 11-0 on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep Thursday. They have scored 30 runs during the four-game winning streak.
Kemp had a two-run double and scored during the Dodgers' three-run fourth against Wandy Rodriguez . Shane Victorino singled and scored in that inning, part of his 3-for-5, two-run game.
Kershaw (11-6) had one of his two singles in the fourth, and he allowed three runs on six hits in eight innings. Kershaw had eight strikeouts and no walks.
"It was a great night," Kershaw said. "Any time you get that many runs, you just try to attack the strike zone and make them beat you. Fortunately, tonight I didn't walk anybody. Yeah, they got some hits, but when you have a 9-2 lead... you go out there, pound the zone and let your defense work."
The Dodgers have won six of their last seven games, claiming sole possession of the division lead for the first time since July 13.
"Ultimately we want to be in first place Oct. 3, but it's always good to feel like you're in first place and to be in first place," Kershaw said.
The Pirates lost their third consecutive game and their grip on a National League wild card spot. They hope they didn't lose their second baseman to injury, too.
Neil Walker dislocated the pinky finger on his right hand while attempting to turn a double play during the first inning.
Walker had an X-ray on his finger that was negative and will see a hand specialist Thursday morning.
"I'm pretty confident I can avoid the DL," Walker said after the game. "I had the same injury on a finger on my glove hand in 2009 (in Tripe-A), and it healed pretty quickly - though I also tore my PCL at the same time and missed the rest of the season."
Walker fielded Matt Kemp 's grounder and tumbled over a sliding Mark Ellis as he was forcing him out at second and in the process of throwing to first. Walker landed awkwardly on his right hand and lay on the ground writhing in pain.
"I was kind of coming at the bag at a weird ankle and he kind of clipped my leg," Walker said. "I ended up rolling forward and as soon as I hit the ground I knew what happened. It was bent like a Z and they (the trainers) had to pop it back in."
Andrew McCutchen hit his career-high 24th home run for Pittsburgh, which has lost six of seven.
Los Angeles, which is 6-0 against the Pirates this season, passed both Pittsburgh in the wild-card race and division rival San Francisco in the NL West.
The Dodgers did not have a home run but tied a season high with 15 hits. Andre Ethier went 3 for 5 with a run and Hanley Ramirez had two hits, a run and an RBI for the Dodgers.
Victorino has a nine-game hitting streak and Kemp has a hit in seven consecutive games.
The Dodgers are 9-3 since Aug. 3.
"We're playing good right now," Kershaw said. "I don't want to say it's perfect - but we're playing pretty good right now."
Gaby Sanchez had two doubles for Pittsburgh, which has lost nine of its past 13 at home and is 3-7 on a season-high 11-game homestand. The Pirates entered the homestand with the best home record in the majors.
Pittsburgh's players held a team meeting 3 1/2 hours before first pitch, but it failed to help. The Pirates' combined 17-run margin of defeat the past two games is easily their worst for a two-game stretch this season.
Rodriguez (7-12) remained winless in four starts with the Pirates since being acquired for three prospects in a July 24 trade from Houston. He was charged with five runs on 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out one.
Rodriguez fell to 0-3 with Pittsburgh, and the Pirates have lost each of his past three starts.
The Dodgers' first two batters of the game singled against Rodriguez, and Victorino scored on Kemp's fielder's choice in which Walker was injured.
The Dodgers broke the game open with a four-run seventh against Chris Resop . James Loney , Luis Cruz , A.J. Ellis and Kershaw had RBIs in the inning.
"We were able to tack on runs that were there for us if we were able to put the ball in play," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "And we were able to do that tonight."
NOTES: The Dodgers have beaten the Pirates nine consecutive times dating to last season - a record since the team moved to Los Angeles. The Brooklyn Dodgers beat Pittsburgh 13 straight times in 1952. ... The Dodgers are 12-4 in road games since the All-star break. ... Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett lost a home start for the first time this season in his most recent outing Saturday. He will start the series finale Thursday against RHP Joe Blanton . Blanton is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts with Los Angeles since being acquired in a trade from Philadelphia.
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Los Angeles Dodgers