Kershaw 8-1 after leading shutout vs. Braves

LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw, the National League Pitcher of the Month for May, started June by battling through six shutout innings and scoring a run as the Dodgers blanked the Braves, 4-0, on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw allowed three hits, struck out a season-low four, walked one, was called for a balk and hit the opposing pitcher (emergency starter Bud Norris) with a pitch for the first time in his career. But the Dodgers’ ace also raised his record to 8-1, lowered his ERA to 1.46 and escaped three innings in which the Braves had runners in scoring position.

Kershaw scored the first run of the game after his one-out infield single and a two-out walk by Corey Seager in the third inning. Justin Turner singled up the middle, and Kershaw scored from second despite Seager’s risky attempt to go from first to third, barely eluding third baseman Adonis Garcia’s tag with a headfirst slide before Kershaw touched home.

Norris, subbing for the injured Mike Foltynewicz, allowed one run in five innings but slipped to 1-7, as the Dodgers added three insurance runs against the Braves’ bullpen in the eighth on Joc Pederson’s RBI bunt single, an A.J. Ellis sacrifice fly and pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal’s RBI single.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDWalking and running: Trayce Thompson, who homered and doubled Friday night, walked three times and stole three bases Saturday night, both career highs. His third swipe came on a double-steal in the eighth inning that put runners at second and third with one out, allowing Thompson to score the third run of the game on Ellis’ sac fly.

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