LOS ANGELES – Clayton Kershaw pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, Matt Kemp homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs, 3-1, on Saturday night to keep Chris Volstad winless in his past 21 starts.

Kershaw (9-6) helped the Dodgers remain a half-game behind first-place San Francisco in the NL West. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, coming off a five-hit shutout against the Giants last Sunday, struck out seven and allowed his only run on a fourth-inning double by Alfonso Soriano while lowering his ERA to 2.88.

Ronald Belisario pitched a perfect eighth and Kenley Jansen did likewise in the ninth for his 21st save.