Kershaw tries to help Dodgers overtake Giants in NL West
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(SportsNetwork.com) - Clayton Kershaw takes another shot at win No. 12 on Saturday when the Los Angeles Dodgers try to overtake the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants in the middle test of a three-game series at AT&T Park.
Kershaw may not have won his ninth straight start on Sunday in St. Louis, but he did not get a decision either, as he allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings of his team's 4-3 win.
"It was a struggle," Kershaw said of his night, in which he allowed three runs for the first time since May. "I didn't really have a great idea where the ball was going for most of the night and then my offspeed stuff was pretty inconsistent, too. They made me pay for my mistakes, but I was able to battle and get through seven, which was good."
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The big left-hander is still 11-2 on the year with a major league-best 1.92 ERA. He stands a good chance at improving those numbers on Friday, as he owns an 11-5 lifetime mark versus the Giants with a 1.48 ERA in 23 games (22 starts).
San Francisco, meanwhile, will counter with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, who has lost four straight decisions and is 5-7 on the year with a 3.99 ERA. Vogelsong battled a cold on Monday in Philadelphia and it showed. He did not get a decision in that one, but was not effective, as he allowed four runs (3 earned) and a career-high 11 hits in just three innings of his team's 7-4 win.
"I had no energy going into the game," he said. "I knew it was going to be a night where I had to battle."
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Vogelsong has faced the Dodgers 22 times (13 starts) and is 4-3 against them with a 3.76 ERA.
Los Angeles moved within a half-game of the Giants in Friday's opener thanks to a record-setting night from Yasiel Puig, who tripled three times to help the Dodgers take an 8-1 victory.
Puig hit three triples and a double in his first four plate appearances, becoming the first major leaguer to do so in a game since Cincinnati's Herm Winningham in 1990. He finished 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
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His three triples were also the most in franchise history since Jimmy Sheckard's three in 1901.
"When he's waiting on the ball and shooting the ball into right-center is when he's at his best," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He stung the ball really well tonight. Looked patient at the plate, looked calm and quiet. It was a good night for him."
Dee Gordon and Matt Kemp also tripled and finished with three hits apiece in the win.
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Tim Lincecum (9-7) was roughed up for six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.
"I got away from my plan. I didn't throw as many breaking balls and sliders as I wanted to," Lincecum said. "Those have been the equalizer for me, keeping guys honest."
San Francisco has now lost two in a row after winning six of seven.