Dodgers 3, Pirates 2: Three first-inning runs were all host Los Angeles needed to sweep the three-game series with Pittsburgh and improve to 6-1 – the best record in the major leagues.

The Dodgers are 6-1 for the first time since 1981, when they won their firth World Series title.

Los Angeles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning after Jeff Karstens hit Andre Ethier to load the bases. Juan Rivera scored Mark Ellis from third on a deep sacrifice fly before James Loney picked up his first hit of the season on an RBI single to left, scoring Matt Kemp. Juan Uribe kept the momentum rolling with an RBI single up the middle.

Dodgers starter Chris Capuano was solid through 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits while striking out seven batters.

The Pirates lost their seventh straight game in Los Angeles and fell to 10-32 in their last 42 visits to Dodgers Stadium

Michael McKenry got Pittsburgh on a board with a solo bomb over the center field wall with two outs in the top of the fifth.

The Pirates threatened in the sixth, putting men at the corners to lead off the inning. Yamaico Navarro plated Andrew McCutchen with a sacrifice fly. Pittsburgh loaded the bases for pinch hitter Matt Hague, who lined out to center to end the inning.

McCutchen went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a walk.

Karstens settled down after a rough start, retiring eight straight batters and leaving with three runs on seven hits and three strikeouts in five innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully missed his third straight game in the booth due to a cold. … Loney entered the game 0-for-16. … Pittsburgh has played four one-run games.