Cubs knocked down by Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - There's no personal statistic that impresses Clayton Kershaw much, including leading the major leagues with 236 strikeouts.
The left-hander can even find a way to turn that stat on its head.
"Leading the league in outs is cool," he said after striking out a season high-tying 14 in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Cubs on Friday night.
The NL West-leading Dodgers won their fourth in a row returning home for the first time in two weeks.
Kershaw (11-6) allowed 1 run and 3 hits in 8 innings, and walked one.
"He's the best lefty in the game, and the best pitcher in the game as well," said Cubs catcher Miguel Montero, who was 0 for 3 against Kershaw.
"It's really pick your poison - fastball, breaking ball, curve ball - he's effective with all three and he doesn't make too many mistakes," he said. "His command of the strike zone is pretty good, and his secondary pitches are just nasty."
Kershaw remains unbeaten in his last 10 starts, going 6-0 with an 0.92 ERA since July 3. He has struck out 96 and walked just eight in that span.
"I take outs as fast as possible," said Kershaw, whose quick outing contributed to a game time of just under 2 1/2 hours.
He won for the first time in three outings after the Dodgers wasted two gems by the left-hander - 10-inning walk-off losses in Oakland on Aug. 18 and in Houston last Sunday.
Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 26th save in 28 chances.
Kershaw allowed a run for the first time in 31 1/3 innings at home - longest such streak in the majors this season - in the fourth on Anthony Rizzo's 26th homer that tied it at 1-all.
The Cubs fell to 5-3 against former Cy Young Award winners this season, having lost to San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner a night earlier. They beat Kershaw 4-2 in Chicago on June 22.
"We saw Kershaw in Chicago, and he was fabulous here," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We fought and we played hard. But we were schooled a little bit tonight again. But that needs to happen for us to get better."
Jason Hammel (7-6) gave up 3 runs and 4 hits in 5-plus innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.
"Kershaw was locked in from the first pitch, and I felt good too," Hammel said. "It had the feelings of a good pitchers' duel, but I was kind of the first one to blink."
The Dodgers capitalized on the Cubs' pitching breakdowns in the sixth, scoring 3 runs to take a 4-1 lead. Hammel had 2 wild pitches in the inning before left-hander Travis Wood relieved him.
Chase Utley scored in his first home game for the Dodgers and Adrian Gonzalez was safe at second base on a throwing error by Montero, putting Los Angeles ahead for good, 2-1.
Pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke grounded into a double play, scoring Gonzalez. They added another run on Kike Hernandez's RBI single.
Utley's triple to deep center field gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the third.
In the middle of the second inning, the Dodgers revealed on the video board that 87-year-old Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully is planning to return for his record 67th season in the booth next year.
"As long as he can go, I know the fans love listening to him," Kershaw said. "Great to have him back."