The Dodgers ended their 2011 campaign with 25 wins in their last 35 games, a furious run at the end to finish over .500, once not thought possible earlier in the year. They hope that momentum will carry over into this season, and while two games is hardly anything to hang their hat on just yet, the Dodgers have a pair of interesting active streaks that date back to last season.
Chad Billingsley was masterful Friday night, striking out 11 while allowing just four runners to reach base in the Dodgers' 6-0 win. Couple that with Clayton Kershaw's brief yet scoreless start on Thursday and the Dodgers starters have yet to allow a run this season. In fact, no Dodgers starting pitcher has allowed a run in their last five games.
Dating back to last season, five different Dodgers starting pitchers have taken the mound and no run scored on their watch.
Dodgers Starting Pitchers, Last Five Games | |||||||||
Starter | Date | Opponent | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Dec |
Chad Billingsley | 4/6/12 | at SD | 8.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | W |
Clayton Kershaw | 4/5/12 | at SD | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ND |
Ted Lilly | 9/28/11 | at AZ | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | W |
Hiroki Kuroda | 9/27/11 | at AZ | 6.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ND |
Dana Eveland | 9/26/11 | at AZ | 5.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | W |
Totals | 30.0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 3-0 |
Chris Capuano hopes to extend that streak to six tonight in his first start as a Dodger.
The last Dodgers starter to allow a run was Kershaw, who allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings at Petco Park last September 25, picking up his 21st victory of the year.
The other streak that dates back to last season is Matt Kemp's 14-game hitting streak that is tied for the second longest streak of his career. Kemp had a 19-game hitting streak from July 9 to August 1, 2008.
During his current hitting streak, which includes a pair of two-hit, two-run games so far this season, Kemp is hitting a robust .433/.460/.883, with six doubles, seven home runs, 20 runs, and 20 RBI in those 14 games.
Kemp is 2-for-6 in his career with two strikeouts against Dustin Moseley, tonight's San Diego Padres starter.
Game Time: 5:35 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket