--RHP Hiroki Kuroda became the second Dodgers starter in a row to go seven innings, something manager Joe Torre had said before Wednesday's game was an area that had to improve. Kuroda held the Marlins to five hits, including a two-run homer by Cody Ross, and got through his seven innings on a remarkably efficient 85 pitches. Still, he was left with no decision for the third time in his six starts this season.
--RHP Takashi Saito continued his recent resurgence, retiring the Marlins in order in the ninth with two strikeouts. Saito has now converted four of six save opportunities this season and has pitched three scoreless innings, with five strikeouts, since blowing a one-run lead in the ninth inning April 25 against Colorado. --LF Juan Pierre started for the first time since Saturday and went 2-for-3 with a two-run double. Pierre has been hitting much better lately, gradually raising his once-moribund average to a respectable .273. He also is batting .429 (9-for-21) lifetime against Colorado's Jeff Francis, so there is a decent chance Pierre will start Friday, too.
--RF Matt Kemp ran his hitting streak to six games with a ninth-inning single that drove in the winning run. Kemp then stole second, giving the Dodgers 18 steals in 15 games this season. Kemp is batting .393 (11-for-28) with runners in scoring position.
--C Russell Martin beat out an infield single in the sixth inning to run his hitting streak to eight games, during which he is batting .429 (12-for-28). He also struck out twice and walked once, but he still has 24 walks and just 19 strikeouts for the season. Manager Joe Torre considered resting Martin because it was a noon game after a night game, but he decided against it after Martin went 2-for-2 with a home run and three walks Wednesday night.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Players since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles a half-century ago who have driven in five runs in an inning, something Matt Kemp did in the first inning on Saturday night with a sacrifice fly and his first career grand slam. Jeff Kent drove in five in the first inning on May 6, 2005 at Cincinnati, and Dusty Baker did it in the second inning on Sept. 13, 1977. All three instances came in innings in which the Dodgers scored 10 runs.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Somebody who wants to tag you like that has no idea. They have no clue. They have no idea what it takes. Not only that, (but) there is a type of person who goes out there and plays as hard as they can and don't care. And by care, I mean plays with reckless abandon, goes out there and plays the game hard like you're supposed to." -- Dodgers third baseman Nomar Garciaparra, responding to the suggestion that he is injury-prone.
