Clayton Kershaw & the Dodgers' power couple get the best of Angels

Clayton Kershaw continued his dominance on the mound, and was backed by the Dodgers' youthful power brigade in a 5-1 win over the Angels on Tuesday, snapping a two-game losing streak.

Tuesday was the ultimate contrast in styles, with Clayton Kershaw at his peak and still throwing in the mid-90s. Jered Weaver, meanwhile, throws at speeds that wouldn't get pulled over on a freeway, yet he was able to keep the Dodgers off balance for most of the night.

Weaver was able to last through seven innings, and though the Dodgers collected 10 hits and two walks off the right-hander they were only able to tally four runs. The margin of victory was provided by the Dodgers' two home run leaders, with Joc Pederson and Corey Seager each going deep on Tuesday.

Pederson nearly brought rain with his high fly ball over the right field fence in the fourth inning, a two-run shot. Seager unloaded on a line drive down the line and deep into the seats near the visitor's bullpen in the seventh.

After Weaver left the game, Pederson took A.J. Achter deep to center in the eighth inning, his second home run of the night. Pederson joined Seager (Sunday) and Trayce Thompson (Monday), giving the Dodgers three straight games with a player hitting two home runs in a game. It is the first time they have had such a streak since Aug. 19-21, 2004, when Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green each had two multi-homer games in that three-game stretch.

It was more than enough for Kershaw, who delivered a performance up to his own excellent standards.

Facing the team with the lowest strikeout rate in baseball, Kershaw still managed to strike out 11 Angels, his sixth consecutive start with double-digit strikeouts.

Three singles and a balk in the second inning gave the Angels a run, but after that it was nothing doing. Kershaw retired his final 13 batters faced, lasting eight innings for the fifth time in nine starts this year. He lowered his ERA to 1.67.

Kershaw also walked zero, again, giving him 23 strikeouts since his last walk, and on the season an absurd 88 strikeouts and four walks in 70 innings.

Kershaw's May is shaping up to be one for the ages - four starts, four wins, 33 innings, three runs, one walk, and 48 strikeouts.

Up next

The two sides shift this four-game series to Anaheim for two, with Mike Bolsinger getting the ball for a spot start on Wednesday for the Dodgers. The Angels counter with Nick Tropeano.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Joc Pederson 2 (8), Corey Seager (7)

WP - Clayton Kershaw (6-1): 8 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 11 strikeouts

LP - Jered Weaver (3-3): 7 IP, 10 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts