Roger Arrieta
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Win: Clayton Kershaw (2-0)
Loss: A.J. Burnett (0-2)
Save: Brandon League (2)
Start Time: 6:09 pm
End Time: 9:11 pm
Time of Game: 3:02
Today’s Attendance: 39,446
Total Attendance (Avg.): 231,528 (46,306 Avg.)
2B: Gonzalez
3B: None
HR: None
LA Starter: Clayton Kershaw – 97 pitches (59 strikes)
W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 9 K
PIT Starter: A.J. Burnett – 108 pitches (70 strikes)
L, 5.1 IP, 4 H, R, 4 BB, 9 K
GAME NOTES
DODGER NOTES:
The Dodgers beat the Pirates for the eighth consecutive time in Los Angeles, winning 1-0 for their second consecutive shutout victory. During the Dodgers’ home winning streak against Pittsburgh (eight games), the Pirates have scored just eight runs.
Clayton Kershaw improved to 2-0 on the young season and allowed just two hits, while striking out nine in 7.0 scoreless innings. Kershaw has not allowed a run in 16.0 innings to start the season and has kept opponents off the board in his last 20.0 frames dating to Oct. 3, 2012. Kershaw has won four consecutive starts and has allowed just two earned runs (three total runs) in his last 44.0 innings in six starts dating to Sept. 11, 2012. In 16.0 innings this season, Kershaw has issued just one walk with 16 strikeouts, leaving him just 10 shy of 1,000 career strikeouts.
Carl Crawford scored the Dodgers’ only run of the night and reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two steals. It was Crawford’s third multi-hit game of the season and his 60th multi-steal game of his career after only posting one in 2012 (July 17 vs. CWS).
Mark Ellis knocked in the game’s only run with an RBI single in the third to score Crawford and went 2-for-4, raising his batting average to .375. Ellis has a three-game hitting streak and has hit safely in four of five games this season.
The Dodger bullpen ran its scoreless, hitless innings streak to 10.1 frames to start the season. Paco Rodriguez (0.1 IP, 1 K) and Kenley Jansen (0.2 IP, 1 K) combined to pitch the eighth before Brandon League picked up his second save in as many nights. League has successfully converted all eight save opportunities as a Dodger and has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances (12.0 IP) dating to Sept. 16, 2012.
PIRATES NOTES:
The Pirates lost their third consecutive game and have gone homerless in their first five games.
A.J. Burnett pitched well, but was the tough-luck loser tonight, allowing just one run on four hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. Burnett fanned nine, giving him 19 strikeouts in 11.0 innings in his two starts this season.
Starling Marte picked up the Pirates’ only two hits, going 2-for-4 for his 14th multi-hit game in 52 career big league games.
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