Ramirez homers again, Dodgers beat Cards

(AP Photo/Kyle Ericson)

ST. LOUIS (AP) Clayton Kershaw worked seven dominant innings and Manny Ramirez homered for the fourth time in six games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who averted a three-game sweep by beating the St. Louis Cardinals and 13-game winner Kyle Lohse 4-1 on Thursday.

Ryan Ludwick's consecutive home run streak ended at five games, which tied a Cardinals record, after he went 1-for-3 with a single, two strikeouts and a walk. Ludwick has 29 homers and is batting .475 (19-for-40) during a 10-game hitting streak.

The 20-year-old Kershaw, the seventh overall pick of the 2006 draft, allowed only three singles while matching his season best with seven strikeouts and working around four walks. The seven-inning stint was the deepest he's gone by a full inning in 12 career starts.

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