LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, Matt Kemp homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Saturday night to keep Chris Volstad winless in his last 21 starts.
Kershaw (9-6) helped the Dodgers remain a game behind first-place San Francisco in the NL West. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, coming off a five-hit shutout against the Giants last Sunday, struck out seven and allowed his only run on a fourth-inning double by Alfonso Soriano while lowering his ERA to 2.88.
Ronald Belisario pitched a perfect eighth and Kenley Jansen did likewise in the ninth for his 21st save.
Volstad (0-8) yielded two runs and six hits through seven innings before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter.
