Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Doumit went 2-for-4 and tripled in the game's only two runs in the first inning, as the Pirates handed the Dodgers their fifth straight loss, 2-0, in the opener of a four-game series.
Slide Continues: Dodgers Blanked By Pirates For Fifth Straight Loss
Brian Burres (1-1), recalled earlier this week from Triple-A Indianapolis after Chris Jakubauskas (concussion) was placed on the disabled list, allowed just four hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh, which has won three straight games for the second time this season.
Jack Taschner hurled 2 2/3 perfect frames in relief, and Evan Meek retired Los Angeles' 5-6-7 hitters in succession in the ninth for his first career save.
Clayton Kershaw (1-1) was saddled with loss despite giving up just two runs on three hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings for the Dodgers, who were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position en route to a third shutout during their skid.
Kershaw walked Lastings Milledge and Andy LaRoche to start the game and struck out the next two before Doumit chased home the baserunners with a line drive to center that got under the glove of Matt Kemp.
An inning after stranding a runner on third, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, only to have Jamey Carroll bounce into an inning- ending force out.
LA wasted Blake DeWitt's leadoff double in the fifth, and Taschner entered with two on and one out in the sixth. The reliever maintained the two-run lead by getting consecutive harmless groundouts from James Loney and Carroll.
DeWitt took a Russell Martin line drive off his right thigh while standing on third base in the third inning. He stayed in the game and went 2-for-3...In his last five games, Doumit has gone 9-for-20 with two home runs and seven RBI...LA was coming off a 2-7 road trip...Pittsburgh took two of three matchups from the Dodgers earlier this month at PNC Park...Octavio Dotel is Pittsburgh's regular closer, but he blew his second save of the season on Wednesday and has given up 11 runs in his last six appearances.
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