Bill Hall started the rally with a one-out single and Angel Sanchez walked with two outs. They advanced on a double steal to put the tying runs in scoring position for Bourn.

Jansen hit Clint Barmes with a pitch before Pence’s looping line drive to left field sent Bourn home.

Catcher Dioner Navarro blocked the plate but Bourn slid in behind him to tag home.

Hall, who was 0 for 11 entering the game, went 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

Jeff Fulchino (1-2) pitched 12/3 scoreless innings for Houston.

Andre Ethier broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out, pinch-hit single in the seventh inning. His hit to shallow center field scored Navarro and gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead.

Bourn thought he’d grabbed the grounder, but instead ran past it for an error that allowed Russell Mitchell to score and Ethier to take second base.

Ethier did not start on Monday after leaving Sunday’s game with various injuries after crashing into a fence chasing a fly ball.

Navarro hit a ground-rule double to the corner of right field before Houston intentionally walked Mitchell with starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw on deck.

The Astros tied it at 1 when Hall doubled on a ball that bounced off the glove of Jay Gibbons in left field before scoring on a single by Humberto Quintero in the third inning.

Astros 4, Dodgers 3

Los Angeles 010 000 200 – 3 7 0

Houston 001 000 003 – 4 9 1

Los Angeles AB   R   H   BI   BB   SO   Avg.   

Furcal ss 4   0   1   0   0   0   .171   

Miles 2b 4   0   1   0   0   0   .285   

Loney 1b 4   0   1   0   0   0   .240   

Kemp cf 4   1   1   1   0   1   .315   

Gibbons rf 3   0   1   0   0   1   .206   

Gwynn Jr. lf 1   0   0   0   0   1   .200   

Sands lf-rf 1   0   0   0   3   1   .239   

Navarro c 4   1   1   0   0   0   .133   

Mitchell 3b 3   1   0   0   1   1   .080   

LOS ANGELES - Colby Rasmus entered Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers riding an eight-game hitting streak that has bumped his overall average to .397. Better than being just a hot streak, the tear is indicative of the Cardinals center fielder finding a consistent stance and approach.

With his hands held slightly higher and a tap step incorporated as a timing device, Rasmus finds himself better able to hit the ball with authority to all fields. The development feels natural to him, potentially a major step for gifted young player defined by streaks good and bad during his first two seasons.

“It took awhile to learn it. People could tell me until they were blue in the face, but it didn’t matter until I learned it for myself,” Rasmus said. I’m not saying I’ve got it figured out. I’ve got a little streak going where I’ve been hot for a little bit.”

Rasmus’ “little streak” included three doubles in Friday night’s 11-2 beating of the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his current tear Rasmus has produced five doubles, a triple and two home runs while hitting immediately in front of first baseman Albert Pujols.

Rasmus entered Saturday night’s start against Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw fourth in the league in hitting, tied with teammate Lance Berkman for the league lead in runs and leading in hits. Though Berkman has six home runs, Rasmus holds the team lead in total bases (38), standing second in the league only to Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Rasmus said he is comfortable looking for an outside fastball and reacting to anything off speed or inside.

“Normally I would go up there thinking people are telling me I’ve got to go the other way. I’d be forcing the ball over there, popping up,” Rasmus said. “That took me away from what I’d normally try to do. Now I’m not trying to hit the fastball the other way but I might be looking for an outside fastball. That still allows me to pull something instead of yanking it foul.”

Rasmus admits the approach may occasionally leave him vulnerable to an inside fastball but the benefits are so far more significant.

“Sometimes I can get it; sometimes I can’t,” he said. “It just depends. Some guys are sneakier than others.” 

Cardinals face Kershaw without Berkman

LOS ANGELES – The St. Louis Cardinals will attempt to take down the National League’s pitcher of the moment tonight without the league’s hitter of the week. Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s influence on Tony La Russa’s lineup is obvious, as La Russa will give righthanded-hitting Allen Craig a start in right field over Lance Berkman.

Berkman smashed two home runs Friday night, giving him six during the team’s 5-3 road trip.

Tyler Greene will start at second base over Skip Schumaker while catcher Gerald Laird makes his second start in four games over Yadier Molina, who equaled a career high with four hits Friday.

At .500 for the first time this season, the 7-7 Cardinals have so far crushed the Dodgers by a cumulative 20-7 while outhitting them 35-18 in two games. A hot week has bumped the Cardinals from the National League’s lowest-scoring team to its most prolific attack with 78 runs, 235 total bases (the Colorado Rockies rank second with 196) and second with a .353 on-base percentage.  

La Russa leaves center fielder Colby Rasmus in the lineup to ride an eight-game hitting streak in which he is batting .436 with eight extra-base hits among a 17-hit barrage.

Kershaw (2-1, 1.37) ranks fourth in the league in ERA and third in strikeouts. The Cardinals counter with Kyle McClellan (1-0, 2.25), who is coming off his first win as a major-league starting pitcher.

Kershaw, 23, made his major-league debut on May 25, 2008 against the Cardinals. That day he became the fourth-youngest starting pitcher in Los Angeles Dodgers history. He has since developed into a more efficient talent projected by many as an eventual Cy Young Award contender.

The Rest:

Cardinals

SS Ryan Theriot

CF Colby Rasmus

1B Albert Pujols

LF Matt Holliday

3B David Freese

RF Allen Craig

C Gerald Laird

2B Tyler Greene

P Kyle McClellan

Dodgers

LF Tony Gwynn, Jr.

3B Casey Blake

RF Andre Ethier

CF Matt Kemp

SS Juan Uribe

1B James Loney

C Rod Barajas

2B Aaron Miles

P Clayton Kershaw

LOS ANGELES - Colby Rasmus entered Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers riding an eight-game hitting streak that has bumped his overall average to .397. Better than being just a hot streak, the tear is indicative of the Cardinals center fielder finding a consistent stance and approach.

With his hands held slightly higher and a tap step incorporated as a timing device, Rasmus finds himself better able to hit the ball with authority to all fields. The development feels natural to him, potentially a major step for gifted young player defined by streaks good and bad during his first two seasons.

“It took awhile to learn it. People could tell me until they were blue in the face, but it didn’t matter until I learned it for myself,” Rasmus said. I’m not saying I’ve got it figured out. I’ve got a little streak going where I’ve been hot for a little bit.”

Rasmus’ “little streak” included three doubles in Friday night’s 11-2 beating of the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his current tear Rasmus has produced five doubles, a triple and two home runs while hitting immediately in front of first baseman Albert Pujols.

Rasmus entered Saturday night’s start against Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw fourth in the league in hitting, tied with teammate Lance Berkman for the league lead in runs and leading in hits. Though Berkman has six home runs, Rasmus holds the team lead in total bases (38), standing second in the league only to Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Rasmus said he is comfortable looking for an outside fastball and reacting to anything off speed or inside.

“Normally I would go up there thinking people are telling me I’ve got to go the other way. I’d be forcing the ball over there, popping up,” Rasmus said. “That took me away from what I’d normally try to do. Now I’m not trying to hit the fastball the other way but I might be looking for an outside fastball. That still allows me to pull something instead of yanking it foul.”

Rasmus admits the approach may occasionally leave him vulnerable to an inside fastball but the benefits are so far more significant.

“Sometimes I can get it; sometimes I can’t,” he said. “It just depends. Some guys are sneakier than others.” 

Cardinals face Kershaw without Berkman

LOS ANGELES – The St. Louis Cardinals will attempt to take down the National League’s pitcher of the moment tonight without the league’s hitter of the week. Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s influence on Tony La Russa’s lineup is obvious, as La Russa will give righthanded-hitting Allen Craig a start in right field over Lance Berkman.

Berkman smashed two home runs Friday night, giving him six during the team’s 5-3 road trip.

Tyler Greene will start at second base over Skip Schumaker while catcher Gerald Laird makes his second start in four games over Yadier Molina, who equaled a career high with four hits Friday.

At .500 for the first time this season, the 7-7 Cardinals have so far crushed the Dodgers by a cumulative 20-7 while outhitting them 35-18 in two games. A hot week has bumped the Cardinals from the National League’s lowest-scoring team to its most prolific attack with 78 runs, 235 total bases (the Colorado Rockies rank second with 196) and second with a .353 on-base percentage.  

La Russa leaves center fielder Colby Rasmus in the lineup to ride an eight-game hitting streak in which he is batting .436 with eight extra-base hits among a 17-hit barrage.

Kershaw (2-1, 1.37) ranks fourth in the league in ERA and third in strikeouts. The Cardinals counter with Kyle McClellan (1-0, 2.25), who is coming off his first win as a major-league starting pitcher.

Kershaw, 23, made his major-league debut on May 25, 2008 against the Cardinals. That day he became the fourth-youngest starting pitcher in Los Angeles Dodgers history. He has since developed into a more efficient talent projected by many as an eventual Cy Young Award contender.

The Rest:

Cardinals

SS Ryan Theriot

CF Colby Rasmus

1B Albert Pujols

LF Matt Holliday

3B David Freese

RF Allen Craig

C Gerald Laird

2B Tyler Greene

P Kyle McClellan

Dodgers

LF Tony Gwynn, Jr.

3B Casey Blake

RF Andre Ethier

CF Matt Kemp

SS Juan Uribe

1B James Loney

C Rod Barajas

2B Aaron Miles

P Clayton Kershaw

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a one-year deal worth $500,000.

The left-hander has been named the opening day starter against the San Francisco Giants on March 31.

Kershaw earned $440,000 last season, when he went 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 204 1/3 innings.

Also on Wednesday, the Dodgers signed 17 other players to one-year deals.

Right-handed reliever Ronald Belisario was placed on the restricted list. He has failed to appear at spring training, apparently because of passport problems in his native Venezuela. He reported a month late last season.

Published: Sunday, February 27, 2011, 1:53 PM     Updated: Sunday, February 27, 2011, 2:06 PM

PHOENIX – Former Great Lakes Loon pitcher Clayton Kershaw emerged in 2010 as one of the top young pitchers in baseball and has already received the assignment as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Opening Day starter.

But Kershaw went through a lot of changes off the baseball field after the 2010 season ended. He got married, then went on a mission trip to Zambia.

Kershaw, 22, recorded 212 strikeouts in 204 1/3 innings with a 2.91 earned run average in 2010.

Kershaw’s wife, Ellen, is committed to helping children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. The two were on a plane to Zambia days after getting married. The flight covered 8,823 miles.

Kershaw took a padded blue mat and had a welder in Zambia build a frame for it so he could continue to throw during his time in Zambia.

He wasn’t prepared for the reaction from the children in Zambia, who had never seen baseball before. The children watched Kershaw, then ran with him during his workouts.

nytimes.com: Ellen Kershaw, who had been to Africa four other times, prepared her husband for the poverty in Zambia. Or so she thought.

“His eyes were huge and his jaw dropped,” she said. “Going over there with Clayton, it was like I was seeing it for the first time.”

He held a 3-year-old girl in his arms for almost an hour, Ellen Kershaw said, and when he rose to leave, the child clung to him. “Clayton got overwhelmed,” she said. “It was a very cool moment seeing him make that emotional connection.”

They visited with a girl they have been sponsoring and left Zambia determined to give and do more for the orphans.

“We see the bed we sleep in,” Ellen Kershaw said. “We see the house we live in. It is hard to swallow. Why did we get all of this? Why were we born here and not there?”

To see Kershaw throw his enthusiasm behind her passion is gratifying, she said. As far as starts go, it is bigger than opening day.