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Dodgers welcome Pirates to Chavez Ravine

Sep 15, 2011 - 3:07 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers will continue their final homestand of the season when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in the opener of a four-game series at Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers ended a three-game losing streak with Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game set, as staff ace Clayton Kershaw threw five shutout innings and struck out five before being ejected in the sixth inning by home plate umpire Bill Welke for hitting Gerardo Parra with a pitch.

Kershaw's beaning of Parra could have been pre-meditated since tension had been building between these clubs the last two nights. It was during the seventh inning of Tuesday's game when LA reliever Hong-Chih Kuo threw a pitch that sailed over the head of Parra, who then homered to right field and stood at the plate for a moment to admire the shot. After crossing the plate, Parra and Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis exchanged words, and Kershaw could be seen yelling from the dugout.

"It's just unfortunate in my opinion," Kershaw said. "It's just too strict. Bill was back there just trying to make sure everything was okay. I understand he has a job to do, but at the same time pay attention to the game and understand what's going on a little bit better."

Josh Lindblom, Nathan Eovaldi and Kenley Jansen held the Diamondbacks to a pair of runs the rest of the game, with Jansen notching his fourth save. Jerry Sands and Matt Kemp each singled in runs in the opening inning against Arizona starter Daniel Hudson, as the Dodgers avoided a three-game sweep and won for the fifth time in eight tries. They will also host San Francisco on this residency.

Dana Eveland will make his third start of the season for Los Angeles Thursday and hopes to remain unbeaten. The former Pirate won at Pittsburgh on Sept. 1 with eight innings of one-run ball in a 6-4 triumph, then hurled seven scoreless innings in Saturday's 3-0 victory at San Francisco. Eveland is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in two games (1 start) against the Pirates.

Pittsburgh has lost two straight and five of its last six games, and was assured its 19th consecutive losing season following Wednesday's 3-2 loss versus St. Louis at PNC Park.

"Their attitude and effort is there every day," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We've got to improve our how-to for us to become a championship organization."

Buccos starter Charlie Morton absorbed the loss and tossed seven innings while giving up three runs on six hits and three walks. He fanned six. Morton lost his fourth consecutive start and has not won since August 8 against San Francisco.

Derrek Lee had three hits and an RBI and Alex Presly finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Pirates, who will also visit Arizona for three contests on their current seven-game road swing.

Ross Ohlendorf gets the nod for Pittsburgh tonight and is 0-2 with an 8.03 earned run average in six starts this season. He hasn't won since last July 2 versus Philadelphia in a 2-0 win at home. Ohlendorf, a right-hander, was banged around for six runs and 10 hits in just two innings of work during a 13-4 loss versus Florida on Friday.

Ohlendorf has made two career starts against the Dodgers, going 0-1 with a 4.50 earned run average.

Los Angeles is 3-1 against Pittsburgh this season and has won six of the previous seven matchups between the two ballclubs.