Stripling steps up, Dodgers shut out Red Sox

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ rotation has been reeling from injuries for weeks if not months, but it found at least one peaceful day Saturday, as spot starter Ross Stripling put together five shutout innings against baseball’s top offense to lead the Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Red Sox.

Stripling, called up to replace Bud Norris (back), who had been acquired to replace the injured Clayton Kershaw (back), allowed four hits in his first start since May 19. Since then, the Dodgers had been trying to limit his innings due to his Tommy John surgery in 2014. That limit, along with his 1.022 OPS allowed in his third time through the lineup, led to an early hook for Stripling. Despite the starter sitting at just 75 pitches through five innings, manager Dave Roberts opted to pinch-hit Chris Taylor in the bottom of the fifth.

Three relievers combined to allow just one hit over the final four scoreless frames, with Kenley Jansen earning his 33rd save.

Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez, struggled in his shortest start since being recalled on July 15. The southpaw allowed eight hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings, with three of those hits coming from a player the Red Sox know quite well, former Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The Sox bullpen limited the damage from there, but it was a moot point with the lineup unable to score or even collect an extra-base hit.

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