KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Clayton Kershaw was asked to assess his performance against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night, and the Dodgers ace bemoaned the fact that he didnt have command of his fastball. Maybe if he did, hed have tossed another no-hitter. Kershaw still managed to follow his first career no-no by going eight marvelous innings, and Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier drove in a run apiece as the Dodgers scraped out a 2-0 victory. "It definitely wasnt easy tonight," Kershaw said. It only looked that way. "All night he felt like he was fighting it," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly explained. "His fastball command wasnt where he wanted it, but typical Clayton." Kershaw (8-2) allowed six hits and a walk while striking out eight. The two-time Cy Young winner hasnt allowed a run in 21 1-3 innings, spanning his near-perfect game against Colorado on Wednesday -- the only runner occurred on an error -- and his previous start against Arizona. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save. Danny Duffy (4-7) dueled admirably with Kershaw for six innings, allowing one run on four hits and four walks. But the left-hander was done in by a high pitch count, needing a season-high 105, and was eventually lifted to protect his surgically repaired shoulder. Eric Hosmer had a pair of hits for the Royals, the first with one out in the first inning to end any thought of Kershaw tossing consecutive no-hitters. Otherwise, their offence was sporadic, unable to string together enough runners to pose much of a threat. "Hes as good as advertised, thats for sure, every bit of it," Hosmer said. "Hes definitely got his game plan, which he sticks to the whole time. Hes got four well-above average pitches. The main thing about him is he gets ahead and attacks you early. Thats a guy you dont want to get behind on with great off-speed and a fastball that he can hump to 95, 96. Luckily, thats the last time we face him." The Dodgers plated their first run after Justin Turner tripled to lead off the game. He scored on a hard grounder by Gonzalez, which deflected off Duffy and toward second base for what nearly ended up being the games only run. Ethiers RBI single came off reliever Kelvin Herrera in the ninth inning. Duffy needed 29 pitches to survive the first, and he wiggled out of jams each of the next four innings, too. But while he was gritty enough to keep Kansas City in the game, a lineup that has struggled to put up runs for the last week failed him again. Kansas City has only scored 13 times while losing five of its last six. Los Angeles had lost all four of its games played at Kauffman Stadium, including the series opener Monday night, when the Royals beat up on Zack Greinke, their former ace. They had a much tougher time handling Kershaw. Showcasing his mid-90s fastball, power curveball and devastating slider, Kershaw at one point retired eight straight. And even when he ran into trouble, he slipped right out of it. Kershaw induced a double play after Hosmers single in the first. He rallied from a 3-0 count to Alex Gordon to strike him out with a runner aboard in the sixth. In the seventh, he got Justin Maxwell and Alcides Escobar on groundouts to leave a pair of runners on base. "Thats the best slider weve seen all year long," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "That thing had teeth with a bite." In fact, the biggest blight on Kershaws night may have been his walk to Gordon in the fifth inning. It was only the second hed allowed to a left-handed hitter this season. "I made some pitches when I had to," Kershaw said. "Tonight I was making a lot more stressful pitches. The no-hitter was stressful for more personal reasons." NOTES: Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez (sore right shoulder) was scratched from the starting lineup. "Hopefully well have him tomorrow," Mattingly said. ... The Royals activated LHP Bruce Chen (bulging disc) from the 60-day DL, optioned LHP Tim Collins to Triple-A Omaha and designated LHP Donnie Joseph for assignment. ... Dodgers RHP Dan Haren faces Royals RHP James Shields in Wednesday nights series finale. Mike Gartner Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . The same cant be said of last Saturdays 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium against a very weakened New York Red Bulls side and one which had three stalwarts in Henry, Cahill and Olave back home in Harrison, NJ. http://www.authenticstarspro.com/Blake-comeau-stars-jersey/. -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. Jon Casey Jersey . Ellis had a season-high 37 points and two key assists late, Dirk Nowitzki led a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 35 points, and the Mavericks spoiled Howards best offensive night in Houston with a 123-120 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night. Neal Broten Jersey . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo.CONROE, Texas - Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson avoided jail Tuesday by reaching a deal with Texas prosecutors to resolve a child abuse case that revived a national debate about corporal punishment.Peterson was sentenced to a form of probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanour charge of reckless assault for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. It was not immediately clear how the plea deal would affect his playing status or whether he might be subject to a new NFL policy that calls for a six-game suspension without pay for a first domestic violence offence.The All-Pro running back was indicted in September on a felony charge of injury to a child after the incident earlier this year in suburban Houston. He has been on paid leave under a special exemption from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.I stand here and I take full responsibility for my actions. I love my son more than anyone of you could even imagine and Im anxious to continue my relationship with my child, Peterson said outside the courthouse after accepting the plea deal.Im just glad this is over, he added. I can put this behind me, and me and my family can continue to move forward.He was not allowed to be near his son while the case was pending, but now can resume having contact with the boy.Adrian wants to get on with his life and have his relationship with his son and get back to playing football, Petersons attorney, Rusty Hardin, said.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league cannot provide a timetable for that.We will review the matter, including the court record, and then make a determination on his status, McCarthy said.Peterson is one of a handful of NFL players who have been involved in domestic violence cases lately, including Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer and, most infamously, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.After receiving plenty of criticism for initially handing Rice only a two-game suspension, Goodell announced in August that he was toughening the leagues punishments for domestic violence.Attention to the issue rose considerably in September, when a video surfaced showing Rice knocking out his then-fiancee — and now wife — in a casino elevator; he soon was cut by the Ravens and indefinitely barred by the league.Peterson has said he never intended to harm his son and was disciplining him in the same way he had been as a child growingg up in East Texas.ddddddddddddThe boy suffered cuts, marks and bruising to his thighs, back and one of his testicles, according to court records.Peterson had tentatively been set to go on trial Dec. 1. If he had been convicted of the felony charge, he could have faced up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Instead, he received two years of deferred adjudication, a form of probation. He was fined $4,000 and must complete parenting classes and perform 80 hours of community service.His no contest plea wasnt an admission of guilt but was treated as such for sentencing.Peterson will have no travel restrictions. If he completes his probation without incident, the misdemeanour charge will be removed from his record.Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said he believed the plea agreement was in the best interest of Petersons son.The probation is all about making him a better parent, Ligon said.Last month, a visiting judge denied a request by prosecutors to have a new judge appointed to the case. Prosecutors had accused Montgomery County state District Judge Kelly Case of being biased against them.The plea deal made moot a pending motion by prosecutors to revoke Petersons $15,000 bond for alleged marijuana use while he was out of bond. Peterson will, however, be subject to random drug tests under the agreement.Corporal punishment is on the decline in the U.S. but still widely practiced in homes and schools. In every state in the country, a parent can legally hit their child as long as the force is reasonable. But whats considered reasonable varies from place to place.The Texas Attorney Generals Office notes that belts and brushes are accepted by many as legitimate disciplinary tools, but electrical or phone cords, boards, yardsticks, ropes, shoes, and wires are likely to be considered instruments of abuse.Texas law says the use of non-deadly force against someone younger than 18 is justified if a parent or guardian reasonably believes the force is necessary to discipline the child or to safeguard or promote his welfare.Ligon said the decision to indict Peterson was a reflection that this went beyond what was reasonable in regards to being a parent. I believe Mr. Peterson is accepting responsibility.___Associated Press writers Howard Fendrich in Washington and Michael Graczyk in Conroe, Texas, contributed to this report.___Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70. 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