Dodgers 4, Cubs 1
LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw struck out 14, sparking the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs before 44,874 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
Kershaw (11-6), who is unbeaten in his last 10 starts, gave up a run on three hits with a walk in eight innings. Although he had his string of scoreless innings at home halted at 31 1/3, when Anthony Rizzo homered in the fourth inning, Kershaw retired 14 of the next 15 batters after the Cubs first baseman's home run. Kershaw fanned Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant three times.
Closer Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth for his 26th save in 28 opportunities.
Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley, who made his debut in front of Dodger fans after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies, went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple. Utley gave the Dodgers the lead in the sixth. He led off the inning by drawing a walk and advancing to second on a single by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Utley went to third on a Hammel wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by catcher Miguel Montero for a 2-1 Dodgers' lead.
Gonzalez scored when pinch-hitter Scott van Slyke grounded into a double play for a 3-1 Dodgers' advantage. An RBI single by Enrique Hernandez increased the margin to 4-1.
Cubs starter Jason Hammel (7-6) allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five-plus innings.
Utley tripled home shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who reached on single, with one out in the third for a 1-0 Los Angeles lead.
Rizzo smoked a Kershaw fastball on a full-count for a solo shot to center and tied the score at 1 with one out in the fourth. Rizzo leads the Cubs with 26 home runs.
NOTES: Longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully announced he would return for his 67th season next year. ... The Dodgers placed RF Yasiel Puig on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Puig hurt himself in Thursday's win over the Cincinnati Reds. INF Jose Peraza was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Puig's spot on the roster. ... RHP Fernando Rodney was in a Cubs' uniform for the first time since being obtained in a trade with the Seattle Mariners. The move reunited Rodney (5-5, 5.68 ERA, 16 saves), a two-time All-Star, with Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who managed him when the two were with the Tampa Bay Rays. To make room for Rodney, the Cubs optioned LHP Zac Rosscup to Triple-A Iowa. ... Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-9, 3.44 ERA) will face Dodgers RHP Mat Latos (4-9, 4.81 ERA) on Saturday.