Matt Kemp was at it again Saturday night, setting a Dodgers record by recording his ninth homer of the year in a 5-1 win over Houston Saturday night.
Kemp, who has hit safely in 14 of his 15 games this season including 10 in a row, became the fastest Dodger ever to reach nine homers.
The Dodgers will conclude their three-game set this afternoon with Chad Billingsley trying to stay unbeaten after four starts. He didn't get a decision in a six-inning start when the Dodgers lost at Milwaukee on Tuesday. The right-hander is 4-3 with a 4.29 ERA in seven starts against the Astros.
Countering for Houston will be Wandy Rodriguez, who has taken a couple of hard-luck defeats despite pitching well. The lefty lost at Washington on Tuesday after giving up just five hits and a run over seven innings. In 11 games (10 starts), he's 4-4 with a 2.45 ERA vs. the Dodgers.
NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw picked up his first victory of the year last night. Kershaw (1-0), who allowed three hits and fanned nine over seven shutout innings, became the first Dodger to win nine straight decisions since Billingsley went 9-0 in 12 games (11 starts) from Aug.30, 2008-May 3, 2009. The last loss for Kershaw came Aug. 7 at Arizona.
Houston native James Loney also went deep for the Dodgers.
Andre Ethier hit a two-run single in the eighth inning. Kemp and Ethier lead the majors with 22 and 21 RBI, respectively.
Kyle Weiland (0-3) surrendered six hits and three runs while fanning six over seven innings.
J.D. Martinez knocked in the lone run for Houston, which lost for the sixth time in seven contests.
The Dodgers have won their last six meetings with the Astros.
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