Fri Jun 20 11:01:42 2008

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Dodgers return home for first of three with Tribe

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(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers take aim at their fourth straight win this evening, when they open a three-game interleague set with the Cleveland Indians at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, as Eric Stults gave Los Angeles' beleaguered pitching staff six-plus strong innings in a 7-4 win at Great American Ball Park.

Stults (1-0), called up after Brad Penny landed on the DL with shoulder soreness, pitched well in his 2008 debut. The lefty allowed three runs -- one earned -- on six hits and a walk while fanning five in the win.

Matt Kemp homered and doubled while driving in three runs and James Loney added three hits with an RBI and two runs scored for Los Angeles, which had dropped five in a row before the sweep.

Getting the call for the Dodgers tonight will be rookie left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who is still searching for the first win of his young career. Kershaw, though, has pitched pretty well in his five starts, allowing more than two runs and posting a 3.75 ERA. However, he has walked 15 batters in 24 frames.

Kershaw received a no-decision on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers despite pitching four scoreless innings of his team's 5-4 loss.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has lost three in a row after getting swept by the Colorado Rockies, culminating with a 6-3 loss in Thursday's finale at Coors Field.

Ben Francisco hit a two-run home run and Casey Blake went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a solo shot for the Indians, who have lost four of their last five.

Indians starter Jeremy Sowers (0-2), who hasn't won in over a year, was ripped for 10 hits and four runs -- three earned -- in taking the loss.

Hoping to get the Tribe back in the win column tonight will be left-hander Cliff Lee, who is 10-1 with a 2.55 ERA this season. Lee received a no-decision on Saturday against San Diego, as he surrendered two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of his team's 8-3 loss.

Lee, who is 7-1 on the road this season, has never faced the Dodgers.

The Dodgers swept a three-game series from the Indians in Cleveland back in 2003.