Dem Bums - A Dodgers Blog

Eric Stults, throwing in place of Brad Penny and Hiroki Kuroda, got his second win in as many starts as he held the Sox to four hits in his complete game shutout while the Dodgers put up five runs of their own.

The Dodgers had just six hits on the nights but managed to get five runs off Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Two came in the first with the help of a Sox error. They made it 5-0 by scoring three in fourth: Blake DeWitt drove a 2-RBI-double and then scored on Stults’ sacfly, his first career RBI.

The offense drove in five runs but the player of the game was Stults. He threw 81 of his 116 pitches for strikes, had 3 K’s, and gave up just four hits and a walk. Torre wanted to take him out after eight but Russell Martin managed to persuade Torre to keep him in, and he sailed to his first complete game shutout and just the second Dodgers complete game shutout of the season.

The Dodgers, now just 3 games behind the Dbacks, go for the series win today. They send Clayton Kershaw to the mound, who is still looking for his first career win. He is 0-1 in six starts with the Dodgers. Lefty John Danks will start for the Sox, who is 4-4 with a 2.80 ERA.

The team will also be without Scott Proctor, who landed himself on the 15-day DL for his elbow. Torre originally told him that he was being optioned to Las Vegas, but his elbow pain sent him to the DL. Brian Falkenborg was activated to take his spot. He has 13 saves and a 3.60 ERA in 32 relief outings with Las Vegas and could give the Dodgers a few solid innings, but he may not be needed if the starters follow Stults’ complete game shuout suit.