Dodgers ace Kershaw’s scoreless streak ends at 37 innings

But the Dodgers were able to erase Kershaw’s missteps – mostly thanks to Jimmy Rollins. Cole comes in after letting in two runs in his last start and both players are in the mix this year for the Cy Young award. “He was having trouble with control on some parts of the plate”. The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs against Avilan but he got three weak ground balls – two force outs at home and an inning-ending play at first base – to escape unscathed. He was running from second base on contact with two outs and didn’t stop when first baseman Mike Morse – acquired by the Dodgers at last week’s trade deadline, then designated for assignment – pulled his foot off the bag.

Left-hander J.P. Howell relieved and supervisor Don Mattingly moved an outfielder into the infield however the left-handed hitting Alvarez singled into proper for the profitable hit.

“You don’t care where the defence is”, Alvarez said. He owns a strong track record versus the Pirates with a 5-1 mark and 3.13 ERA in 12 career starts.Liriano was scratched from his first start after the All-Star break due to a stiff neck and had his last outing curtailed when rain postponed the game after two innings. Pittsburgh (63-44) remained three games ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild card standings.

Antonio Bastardo (4-1) pitched a scoreless 10th for his second win in as many games.

An inning later, Kershaw hit Starling Marte with a pitch, gave up an RBI double to Andrew McCutchen and an RBI single to Aramis Ramirez.

The Dodgers took the lead, 2-1, in the third.

In the top of the fifth inning, Rollins singled to drive in Pederson and give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. More impressively, it was only the third home run hit by a left-handed batter of the reigning MVP.

Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner (right thigh infection) began hitting off a tee and throwing Friday at the Camelback Ranch training complex in Glendale, Arizona, but he won’t be ready to come off the DL next Tuesday when first eligible, as hoped.

Pirates: RHP Deolis Guerra (right knee inflammation) was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 31, after Major League Baseball rescinded a waiver claim by Cleveland because of the injury.

An off day on Monday will allow the Pirates to flow from this weekend’s series against the Los Angeles Dodgers into next week’s Central Division showdown with the Cardinals in St. Louis while keeping the rest of the pitching staff in their regular five-day rotation.