Postgame: Marlins 6, Dodgers 3

The Marlins beat the Dodgers 6-3 tonight at Dodger Stadium to win the first game of a weekend series. For a full recap and boxscore click here.

THE BARE ESSENTIALS:

• Clayton Kershaw wasn't nearly as sharp as he has been in recent weeks, but he still turned in a quality start: 6 innings and two earned runs, with nine hits and three walks.

• The bullpen lost it for the Dodgers, as James McDonald was charged with the loss and the Marlins scored three runs (their margin of victory) after Kershaw exited.

• Only six hits for the Blue, and half of them were from Andre Ethier. Ethier drove in the two runs with a double in the sixth.

• Wes Helms did it big for the Marlins, going 3-for-6 with an RBI and kick-starting the scoring off Kershaw. Florida ace Josh Johnson turned in a solid start: seven innings, seven baserunners, and three runs.

ETC...ETC:

• The Dodgers go back to 26 games above .500 at 61-35. Joe Torre said earlier this week that his next goal for the team is 30 games over.

• Don't look now, but bullpen newcomer Claudio Vargas has allowed just one run in seven innings pitched since his return on July 4.

• Ramon Troncoso was a bit out of control in the eighth, hitting two batters and giving up three hits. He was charged with two runs.

ON DECK:

• Rick VandenHurk (1-0, 3.00 in one start) and Hiroki Kuroda (3-5, 4.73) tomorrow night in the second game of the series.