Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Clayton Kershaw threw seven-plus solid innings, and Andre Ethier was a double short of the cycle, as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped San Diego, 8-4, in the second of three games with the Padres.
Kershaw (3-5), who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to the game, gave up three runs on three hits and three walks, and struck out six.
"(Dodgers pitcher) Derek Lowe gave me some advice before the game. He said (to) turn my front hip more to the catcher," Kershaw said. "And I was able to keep the ball down tonight. To get that kind of run support makes it easy to pitch."
James Loney finished 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, while Manny Ramirez had a two-run homer and Blake DeWitt added a solo shot for Los Angeles, which has won four straight games. The Dodgers moved within 1 1/2 games of Arizona for the top spot in the NL West, after the Diamondbacks lost to St. Louis on Tuesday.
Cha Seung Baek (4-9) absorbed the loss after he was rocked for seven runs on eight hits and a pair of walks in 3 2/3 frames.
Kevin Kouzmanoff finished with two RBI for the Padres, who had won five of six games coming into this set.
Ramirez put the Dodgers on the board in the first inning. With Ethier on base after a single, the slugger blasted his 10th homer since coming to Los Angeles from Boston.
Ethier tripled to begin the home third, and Ramirez gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to left. DeWitt's leadoff shot in the fourth boosted the Dodgers' advantage, and Los Angeles continued to rally in the inning.
Angel Berroa and Kershaw each got on base, and Juan Pierre -- who left after the seventh inning with an apparent back injury -- sacrificed the runners into scoring position. Ethier walked to load the bases for Ramirez, who struck out.
Loney singled to plate two and chase Baek from the game. Dirk Hayhurst came on and surrendered an RBI single to Russell Martin as Los Angeles took a 7-0 lead. Ethier's leadoff homer in the sixth put the Dodgers' lead at eight.
The Padres got on the scoreboard in the seventh, when Nick Hundley grounded out with runners on second and third to bring one run home. Kershaw walked two batters to begin the eighth and was removed for Ramon Troncoso, who gave up a run-scoring double to Luis Rodriguez and two-run single to Kouzmanoff.
Joe Beimel entered for the Dodgers and got out of the inning without further damage, then worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to close out the game.
Game Notes
Loney extended his hitting streak to 13 games..Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday, and can start rehab on Wednesday. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with torn cartilage in the joint..Kershaw, a rookie, matched a career high for innings pitched.