Kershaw pitches Dodgers past Cards for 4th win in row

Clayton Kershaw allowed one run and four hits in seven innings to carry the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday night. Kershaw (11-2), who struck out nine and walked one, has pitched at least six innings in all 20 starts this season.

Justin Turner had two hits, a walk and a run batted in for the Dodgers, who have won four in a row and seven of eight. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (7-12) gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Dexter Fowler, who came in hitting .375 in his career against Kershaw, had two hits off the left-hander before finishing 2-for-4. Kershaw gave up doubles to lead off the first and second innings, and a single to start the third, but St. Louis only took advantage in the second.

Matt Carpenter couldn't lay down a sacrifice bunt following a leadoff double by Paul DeJong, but then grounded a two-out RBI single just inside the first-base bag for a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers matched the Cardinals with a leadoff double from Corey Seager in their half of the second. He was still on second base with two outs when Kristopher Negron singled to tie the score at 1-1.

Joc Pederson opened the third with a single for Los Angeles. He moved to second on a ground out and scored on Turner's opposite-field double into the right-field corner for a 2-1 lead. After Fowler led off the third with a single, Kershaw retired the next 13 batters before Carpenter walked with one out in the seventh. Pederson made a nice running catch in the right-center field gap off the bat of Andrew Knizner to end the inning.

Edwin Rios pinch-hit for Kershaw in the seventh and drew a walk-off reliever Andrew Miller before eventually scoring on a two-out single by Max Muncy to make it 3-1. Pedro Baez struck out DeJong with the bases loaded to end the eighth.

Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth for his 26th save.