Dem Bums – A Dodgers Blog

A three-run first inning kick-started the Dodgers, but they couldn’t hold the lead as they take the 5-8 loss to the Astros.

Clayton Kershaw was pulled in the fifth and took the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits, including a two-run homerun in the third to put the Astros ahead. Mota then gave up one run in an inning and Troncoso and Belisario finished from the pen, with Belisario giving up another run.

Two walks by Russ Ortiz in the first helped the Dodgers get a quick 3-0 lead. They then were blanked until the seventh when Manny drilled a two-run shot. Manny was then up with no outs and two on in the ninth, but came a few feet shy of a homerun to the rightfield corner. Andre Ethier then walked to load the bases, but Loney and Martin both struck out to end the Dodgers’ chance at a comeback.

The Dodgers look to even up the series on Wednesday, with Randy Wolf taking on Roy Oswalt. Oswalt is 0-2 in 2009 and 5-3 lifetime against the Dodgers.