"In the last week or so, there's been a major change in the Dodgers' clubhouse.

Miley Cyrus is out. M.I.A. is back in.

So when the Dodgers win, as they did by a 3-2 margin over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, "Paper Planes" blares over the locker room sound system. No more "Party in the U.S.A."

"We went back to our old roots," Clayton Kershaw said jokingly. "We went back to 2008. We needed a change."

But for the two players who were most instrumental in the Dodgers' latest victory, this season has been nothing like the seasons they had two years ago.

At this stage of the season of 2008, Kershaw was a 20-year-old rookie trying to discover the key to consistency. Rafael Furcal was less than a week removed from back surgery.

Thursday night, Kershaw had what was arguably one of the best starts of his career, striking out 12 and walking none over eight innings to improve to 9-4. The eight innings matched his career high.

Furcal had a game that was like so many he has played in recent weeks, as he reached base four times and lined a ball inside of the right-field foul pole for a two-run home run in the seventh inning that reversed a one-run deficit.

On the field and in the clubhouse, Kershaw demonstrated polish uncommon for a 22-year-old.

Asked what he said in his failed attempt to convince Manager Joe Torre to let him return to the mound for the ninth inning, Kershaw said, "I told him I was bound to get Byrd out one of these times."

He was talking about Marlon Byrd, who got three hits off him.

Torre said he didn't even entertain the idea of giving Kershaw the chance to pitch his first complete game. "It's our job to keep him healthy," said Torre, who sent in closer Jonathan Broxton to earn his 19th save.

Torre said he continues to be impressed by Kershaw's progress."