San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Matt Kemp blasted the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers won their fifth straight game, topping the Padres, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game series.
Surging Dodgers Take First Game In West Division Showdown Against Padres, 4-3
Andre Ethier had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers, who won for the 10th time in 13 games. Jeff Weaver (2-1) pitched the sixth inning to get the win as Los Angeles moved over .500 (18-17) for the first time this season.
Adrian Gonzalez homered for San Diego, which was coming off sweeping a three- game series in San Francisco. David Eckstein had three hits and scored once.
Luke Gregerson (0-1) gave up a double to Russell Martin with one out in the seventh. Kemp followed by taking a 1-0 offering barely over the wall in center field for his eighth homer of the year. Tony Gwynn leaped at the wall and the ball nicked his glove, but the hit gave Los Angeles the lead.
Gregerson, who celebrated his 26th birthday Friday, hadn’t allowed an earned run over his previous 15 appearances.
Ronald Belisario and Hong-Chih Kuo combined for scoreless seventh and eighth innings for the Dodgers, who then wasted a bases-loaded chance in the ninth when James Loney struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jonathan Broxton retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his fifth save.
Ramon Ortiz made his first start since May 26, 2007 and allowed six hits and three runs in four-plus innings for the Dodgers. Padres starter Jon Garland surrendered six hits and a pair of runs in six frames.
Gonzalez homered to right with two outs in the first inning, and Garland got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by getting Ortiz to bunt into a double play.
Manny Ramirez singled in Martin with nobody out in the third, but LA again couldn't add to its lead despite having the bases full.
Eckstein scored on Will Venable's base hit in the bottom of the third, and the teams exchanged runs again in the fifth - LA's coming on an RBI double from Ethier and San Diego's on a fielder's choice from Chase Headley.
The Dodgers are seven games (6-1) into a stretch of nine straight games against National League West opponents...The Dodgers were expected to activate shortstop Rafael Furcal off the 15-day disabled list Friday, but his left hamstring isn’t 100 percent healed...Ethier has 19 RBI this month and 38 this season.
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