Dem Bums - A Dodgers Blog

Hiroki Kuroda was activated just before Wednesday’s game for his first start in three weeks. To make room on the roster, Clayton Kershaw was optioned to Las Vegas after going 0-2 in eight starts for the Dodgers. Kershaw wasn’t happy about being sent down, but the attention soon shifted to Kuroda as he pitched seven shuout innings to lead the Dodgers to a 4-1 win over the Astros.

The Dodgers spanned all four of their runs in the first five innings. Jeff Kent had two RBI-doubles for the first two runs. In the fourth, Blake DeWitt singled, moved to third and scored on a squeeze by Luis Maza. Andre Ethier capped off the runs in the fifth with a leadoff solo homerun, his eighth of the year.

Kuroda proved that missing three weeks is no biggie, he allowed just five hits in his seven shutout innings. The lone Astro run was off Cory Wade in the ninth, a solo shot to Carlos Lee. Wade then closed out the inning to give the Dodgers the win and put them just 2 games behind the Dbacks.

The Dodgers have avoided a series loss, they can tie the series with a loss or take it with a win in tomorrow’s afternoon game. Chad Billingsley will face Brandon Backe. Billingsley has won his last three decisions and is looking to set his record over .500. Backe 5-8 with an ERA over 5.