MIAMI -- Pitching with a big lead in the eighth inning, Clayton Kershaw bounced a curve in the dirt, then spun in disgust and kicked the mound as if he had just lost the game. Kershaw is unaccustomed even to one-pitch lapses, and he overcame the occasional difficulty he had Thursday, pitching eight innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win their third game in a row by beating the Miami Marlins 6-0. Kershaw (13-7) allowed five hits and lowered his ERA to 1.72, best in the majors. Miamis leadoff batter reached in five innings against the left-hander, but the Marlins hit into three double plays and went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. By Kershaws standards, that made it a subpar effort. "I was terrible the first couple of innings. I didnt have command," he said. "It could have gone a lot differently. The game could have been out of hand pretty quick." Kershaw walked Christian Yelich to start the game, and the first two batters reached against him in the second inning. But the Marlins rank last in runs and hitting for a reason, and Kershaw is a Cy Young Award contender for a reason. "Ive seen him a lot better," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "He looked like his command was not there with his fastball, but whenever we did get in a situation with a guy on, he executed his pitches and was able to keep us at bay." Former All-Star closer Brian Wilson made his first major-league appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery and pitched the ninth for Los Angeles, allowing one hit and striking out two. The game was his first since April 2012. "It was long overdue, a very arduous process, but Im glad I went through it so I could appreciate baseball even more," Wilson said. "I felt comfortable. I felt like I hadnt skipped a beat." Wilson completed the Dodgers 17th shutout, most in the majors. Miami was shut out for the 15th time. The Dodgers (75-52) climbed 23 games above .500 for the first time since 2009. They went 5-2 on their two-city trip and have won 22 of their past 25 road games. "Weve got the perfect mix right now -- great starting pitching, timely hitting and a lockdown bullpen," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "It creates a lot of wins." They improved to 28-5 since the All-Star break and begin a series at home Friday against AL East leader Boston. Los Angeles Yasiel Puig hit a double that struck the centre-field wall above the 418-foot sign, scored a run and had a sacrifice fly. But he finished only 2 for 15 in the series, dropping his average to .346. Puig was hit by a pitch in the upper left arm in the ninth but stayed in the game. He became dehydrated during Wednesdays game, limped at times and received intravenous fluids afterward. Kershaw broke a scoreless tie when he hit a two-out single in the fourth to drive in the first of the Dodgers three runs in the inning. Hes tied for the major-league lead among pitchers with eight RBIs. That was the only run Los Angeles needed, thanks to his pitching. He struck out six, including Yelich three times. "Hes one of the best pitchers in the game for a reason," the rookie said. "I found out that today pretty quick." Henderson Alvarez (2-3) went five innings and allowed five runs, all of them scoring with two outs. Puig barely missed a home run leading off the fourth inning, when his drive struck a foot below the edge of the wall for a double. "Its almost not fair to hit a ball that far and it doesnt go out," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said with a smile. With two out Alvarez pitched around Juan Uribe, walking him to load the bases, but the tactic backfired when Kershaw hit an RBI single. Carl Crawford followed with a two-run double for a 3-0 lead. The Dodgers scored again in the fifth on back-to-back two-out doubles by Andre Ethier and Ellis, followed by Skip Schumakers RBI single. Notes: Hanley Ramirez was given the day off, and Nick Punto made his 25th start at SS for the Dodgers. Said Mattingly of the 5-foot-9 Punto still playing the position at age 35: "Chihuahuas live longer than big dogs." ... Dodgers RHP Ricky Nolasco, scheduled to pitch Friday, is 1-2 with an 8.16 ERA in three starts against Boston. ... Miamis Giancarlo Stanton had a double and is batting .316 with 13 homers at home. On the road he is batting .184 with three homers. Nike Free Shoes Clearance NZ .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. Nike Free Online Sale . Simon (10-3) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings to break a tie with the Dodgers Zack Greinke and Cardinals Adam Wainwright for the NL lead in victories. Simon went to spring training as a relief pitcher and moved into the starting rotation when Mat Latos was recovering from elbow and knee surgeries. http://www.nikefreenz.com/. "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Nike Free NZ Sale . Certainly not Monday night. George Hill took care of the early work, scoring a season-high 26 points, and Paul George closed it out by scoring 11 of his 26 points during a decisive second-half stretch that finally allowed Indiana to pull away from Minnesota 98-84 for yet another win. Nike Free Shoes NZ . Two weeks after suffering a concussion, Foles will start in place of Michael Vick, who is out for the second time this season with a hamstring injury.Every night of the Stanley Cup playoffs, TSN hockey analyst and former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan breaks down each goalies performance. Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings (4) - Good start to the game, was strong on the penalty kill making two big stops. No chance on the first goal as it hits Pouliots stick and deflects in. His second period early on was great as well, big saves on Brassard, Zuccarello and St. Louis. No chance on the second goal as it hits Martinez and goes back door right to St. Louis. He could have played the third period in a lawn chair, as the Rangers created zero scoriing chances and had three shots on goal in the last 30 minutes.dddddddddddd Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (5) - Dialed in early on, made big saves on Pearson and Toffoli, gets a break as Stralman drags one off the goal line on the penalty-kill. In the second period, he did some terrific work as he made big saves on Stoll, Carter and Pearson - the goal against was a great move by Brown on a breakaway. He put on a show in the third with big saves on Carter, Toffoli and Brown. Got some help from Stepan as he dragged a puck off the goal line, but was outstanding and the difference in the game. Needs more help in Fridays Game 5 from the rest of his team. ' ' '