Rangers power past Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- Joey Gallo and Prince Fielder homered for the Rangers, and the Dodgers dug themselves too deep a hole in a 5-3 loss on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers' third loss in as many nights to Texas.

Manager Don Mattingly was looking for a spark at the top of the lineup with Joc Pederson sitting, hitting Yasiel Puig batting first, and it seemed to pay off with leadoff doubles by Puig in the first inning and Scott Van Slyke in the second. However, both were stranded in scoring position.

The Rangers got a leadoff double of their own in the second by Fielder, a late addition to the lineup after Kyle Blanks was scratched. Texas brought him home with a single and pop fly that dropped in shallow center field, the latter a rare 8-4 force play, and a run-scoring one at that.

After we got to hear Blackstreet's 'No Diggity' as Kershaw's new at-bat music in the second inning, Gallo left no doubt in the third inning, crushing a ball well into the upper half of the right field pavilion for a two-out, two-run home run and a 3-0 Rangers advantage.

Joey Gallo's 3rd-inning HR was calculated at 439 feet, 2nd-longest HR Clayton Kershaw has allowed in his career (Ryan Spilborghs, 441 feet)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 18, 2015

Texas tallied another run in the fourth inning, thanks to Adam Rosales resourcefully advancing on the bases after Kershaw seemed to get him out. First, Rosales struck out, but a passed ball by A.J. Ellis, and Ellis subsequently not finding the ball allowed Rosales to reach. Kershaw then picked him off first, but first base umpire Marvin Hudson called a balk, saying Kershaw stepped toward home plate while throwing to first.

A single to center by Rougned Odor brought home Rosales for a 4-0 lead. Kershaw struck out 10 in his six innings, but those four runs hung him with the loss, as snapped an impressive streak at Dodger Stadium.

Clayton Kershaw gave up 4 runs, ending streak of 30 straight home starts allowing 3 runs or fewer (2nd-longest in modern era) via Elias

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 18, 2015

Wandy Rodriguez was cruising with that lead into the sixth inning, when the Dodgers suddenly found life. Justin Turner singled to right field, then Van Slyke - in his first game off the disabled list - homered to left center to cut the Dodgers deficit in half.

The Dodgers pulled to within a run on a double by Enrique Hernandez and a pinch-hit single by Alex Guerrero, giving Guerrero nine RBI this season as a pinch-hitter and chasing Rodriguez. A walk to Puig put the tying and go-ahead runs on base with one out, but Joc Pederson (pinch hitting for Chris Heisey) struck out and Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to first base to end the threat.

Fielder added a solo shot off Josh Ravin in the ninth inning to give Texas an insurance run.

With closer Shawn Tolleson unavailable after pitching three straight days, Rangers rookie Keone Kela pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first major league save.

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Scott Van Slyke (3); Joey Gallo (5), Prince Fielder (11)

WP - Wandy Rodriguez (4-2): 5⅓ IP, 9 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

LP - Clayton Kershaw (5-4): 6 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 10 strikeouts

Sv - Keone Kela (1): 1 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout