The Dodgers have now notched three straight wins, with Clayton Kershaw leading the Dodgers past the Padres on Tuesday.
The Dodgers put up an early 2-0 lead in the first, with Andre Ethier singling and scoring on Manny’s two-run shot. They added another in the third before exploding for four runs in the fourth, two off James Loney’s single to extend his hit streak to 13 games and one from Blake DeWitt’s solo homerun. Ethier capped off the scoring in the sixth with a solo homerun, and was just a double short of the cycle; he ended 3 for 4 with 4 runs scored on the night.
Kershaw took a no-hitter into the fifth and went into the eighth inning for the first time in his career. His shutout held until the seventh and he was taken out in the eighth after walking the first two. Ramon Troncoso came in and allowed the runners to score, tagging Kershaw for three total runs on three hits with six K’s. Kershaw notched his third win, his first in almost a month, and Joe Beimel finished the eighth and ninth in scoreless fashion.
The Dodgers can complete a sweep today, with Hiroki Kuroda taking the mound in search of his eighth win. He will face lefty Wade LeBlanc, who is making his big-league debut tonight. The Dodgers have now cut the Dbacks’ lead to 1 1/2 games, and they have a chance to regain the series lead this weekend by hosting the Dbacks at home. The Dodgers also received some more good news, with word that even though Jeff Kent underwent minor surgery, he could still be available to play this season.
