Kershaw pitches out of jams in 3-1 win

Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw had some rough innings early but settled into Cy Young Award form last night to pace Los Angeles to a 3-1 win over Arizona.

Kershaw went eight innings, gave up one run on six hits and struck out 10 to become the first 16-game winner in the major leagues. He lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.73.

Kershaw, who has had his problems in Phoenix, pitched out of jams in the third, fourth and fifth innings before settling into a rhythm.

Arizona loaded the bases in the third inning with one out but Kershaw closed the door, getting Aaron Hill to pop up to second and Mark Trumbo to fly out to left.

Remarkably, it was the first time Kershaw faced a bases-loaded situation all season.

The Snakes got on the board in the fourth inning when Alfredo Marte doubled and Jordan Pacheco singled to left. Marte stopped at third but then went home when Scott Van Slyke turned an ankle fielding the ball and throw wildly to the infield. Kershaw then retired the next three batters in a row, getting Tuffy Gosewisch on a strikeout, Didi Gregorious on a fly to center and pitcher Wade Miley on a tapper back to the box.

Ender Inciarte opened the fifth with a triple to right but was stranded at third as Kershaw fanned Cliff Pennington, induced Hill to pop up to short and struck out Trumbo.

After that, Kershaw surrendered only a single before turning the ball over to Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

The Dodgers put up all three of their runs in the third when Dee Gordon reached on a bunt single, Yasiel Puig drew a walk and Matt Kemp drilled a double into right center, scoring two. Van Slyke, who was in the lineup because of his past success against Miley, then justified the start with a line shot home run into the seats in left.

With the win, the Dodgers maintained a five-game lead in the NL West over the Giants, winners against the Rockies.