Clayton Kershaw led seven innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers outscored the struggling Chicago Cubs 7-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.
Freddie Freeman doubled three times and scored twice to help the NL West leaders win the 16th of 21 games. Austin Barnes homered and drove in three runs.
Kershaw (4-0) allowed five hits, struck out two and walked one. The three-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from a tough loss to Detroit when he passed Hall of Famer Don Sutton as the Dodgers’ leader in strikeouts.
Kershaw teamed with two relievers for the Dodgers’ third shutout this season. The doubleheader is to make up for Friday’s game that was not played due to rain.
Drew Smyly (1-3) went 4 1/3 innings in his return from the dueling list. The lefty allowed two runs and six hits.
For the Dodgers, the Dominican Hanser Alberto 1-0. The Mexican Edwin Ríos 1-0.
For the Cubs, the Venezuelan Wilson Contreras 3-0 and his compatriot Rafael Ortega 1-0. Dominican Jonathan Villar 3-0.
