Dodgers end Blue Jays' 4-game winning streak

The Toronto Blue Jays knew there was little room for error with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

Los Angeles's offence scored three in the third inning and Kershaw took care of the rest, matching a season best 10 strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on eight hits over seven innings as the Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays 6-2 on Saturday.

"You got to play almost a perfect game cause you figure it's going to be low scoring," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "I thought we worked him pretty good, we made him throw a lot of pitches early, you're hoping maybe five (or) six innings, the way it started, and get him out of there, but he kicked it into gear."

R.A. Dickey pitched a season-high seven innings allowing four runs, two earned, while allowing six hits and striking out three. Darwin Barney had an RBI single and Kevin Pillar added and RBI double for Toronto.

The Blue Jays (16-16) have now lost six straight starts by Dickey (1-4) this season.

"(Kershaw) gave up two today, and that's usually about all you're going to get out of him," Dickey said. "But I don't feel like I have to be perfect, I feel like I need to pitch well for me and I try to pitch well every time regardless of who is on the other side of the field."

The Dodgers got to Dickey in the third inning.

After Justin Turner reached to load the bases on a fielder's choice, Chase Utley scored on a passed ball from Blue Jays catcher Josh Thole, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Adrian Gonzalez then singled to score a pair of runs.

Joc Pederson opened the scoring in the second inning, taking Dickey's 2-1 pitch deep over the centre-field wall for his fifth home run of the season.

"It was just another one of these kooky innings," Dickey said of the third. "A ball got away from Josh and a couple infield singles, next thing you know, I'm giving up a two or three spot that inning."

Barney's second inning single scored Justin Smoak to tie the game 1-1.

Kershaw, who was making his first career start against the Blue Jays, retired the following eight Toronto hitters in order following Barney's RBI single.

"They fouled a lot of pitches off today, my pitch count got up there really quickly," said Kershaw. "My fastball command wasn't as good as it has been. I was working from behind a lot today, which made it tough."

The Blue Jays didn't get to Kershaw (4-1) again until the fifth inning when Kevin Pillar's double to left scored Barney from first.

With Chad Girodo on to pitch in the eighth, Turner added to the Dodgers (15-15) lead going deep off the Toronto reliever for his first home run of the season.

Pillar showed off his defensive prowess in the ninth, making a diving catch in centre field to rob Carl Crawford of extra bases. Howie Kendrick scored from third on the play.

"I feel like that's what I'm out there to do is make plays and I try to keep them as routine as possible," said Pillar, who was sporting rug burn under his right eye after hitting the turf face first on the catch. "That's what I'm out there to do is make plays and it was a good one."

Girodo and right-hander Joe Biagini each pitched an inning of relief in the loss.

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