Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight shutout innings and Matt Kemp drove in both Los Angeles runs as the Dodgers blanked the New York Mets 2-0 on Thursday night.

Kemp had a run-scoring double in the first and homered in the seventh as Los Angeles won for the second straight night following a six-game losing skid.

Kuroda (8-8) gave up five hits and walked one. He struck out four to help send New York to its seventh loss in eight games.

Hong-Chih Kuo pitched the ninth and recorded his third save of the season.

Kemp’s homer was his 17th of the season. In the opening inning, Jamey Carroll walked and scored on Kemp’s two-out double off the right-field wall.

Hisanori Takahashi (7-5) went seven innings for the Mets and gave up two runs and three hits. Takahashi struck out five and walked two.

Jeff Francoeur had two of New York’s five hits.