Hiroki Kuroda took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but the Dodger bullpen allowed seven runs to take the 8-5 loss.
The Dodger offense began with two runs in the first, a two-run shot by James Loney, to give Kuroda some run support to work with. Rafael Furcal was out of the lineup again, so Juan Pierre took the leadoff spot, going 1 for 4. The Dodgers added one more in the seventh and rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to match the Astros eight runs. Blake DeWitt and Andre Ethier each had three hits on the night, with a double for each.
Kuroda lost his no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh when Hunter Pence singled. Kuroda faced two more batters, walking one, before Torre pulled him and put in Joe Beimel. Beimel then walked in a run before escaping the inning jam. Jonathan Broxton then came in for the eighth, in place of the ill Saito, but allowed the Astros to score six runs on six hits, recording just one out. Broxton came in the inning with the lead and left trailing by four. The outing gives Broxton his first blown save and loss of the season. Hong-Chih Kuo then relieved for Broxton and threw the ninth, giving up one more run. Kuo may start in the weekend’s Angels series in place of fifth starter Esteban Loaiza, who is on the DL.
The Dodgers have an off day on Monday before heading out to Milwaukee for a three game series with the Brewers.
