Final
  for this game

Dodgers hand Diamondbacks another one-run loss

May 14, 2011 - 5:59 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Matt Kemp had two hits and an RBI to help lift Los Angeles over Arizona, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game series.

Andre Ethier had a run-scoring single and Rod Barajas added a home run to give the Dodgers their third straight victory.

Clayton Kershaw (5-3) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking two while striking out 11. He retired 14 batters in a row after walking Xavier Nady with one out in the third inning.

"After the first two innings I settled down. Rod (Barajas) and I were on the same page all night. I didn't have to call him off at all," said Kershaw.

Joe Saunders (0-5) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and four walks in the D-Backs' fifth consecutive one-run defeat.

Barajas hit a solo shot in the fifth to give the Dodgers the lead.

Los Angeles added another run in the sixth on a Kemp double that brought home Jamey Carroll. Carroll led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a single by Aaron Miles.

Saunders was forced from the game in the seventh after allowing a run with two outs because of a Stephen Drew throwing error. After Carroll walked, Miles hit a grounder to short that Drew had to run to his right to grab. When he got the ball, he made a jumping throw to second, but no one was covering the bag. The ball rolled all the way to the stands and allowed Carroll to score and Miles to reach third.

"My change was good and my sinker was good. I just made a couple of mistakes and we just came up short tonight," said Saunders.

Joe Paterson then entered the game for Arizona and got Ethier to ground to Drew as well, but his throw to first was off-line and Ethier was safe. It was ruled an infield single and Miles crossed the plate to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

Xavier Nady singled to score Chris Young off of reliever Matt Guerrier in the eighth inning to put the D-Backs on the board. Young hit a one-out single and then stole second before coming home.

Vicente Padilla came in to pitch the ninth and walked Justin Upton to lead off the inning, then allowed a single to Kelly Johnson. Gerardo Parra followed with a dribbler to first base that put men on second and third with one out. Then pinch-hitter Miguel Montero singled to center to bring both men home and make it a one-run game. Padilla struck out pinch-hitter Russell Branyan before walking Young and being pulled from the game.

Kenley Jansen entered in relief of Padilla and struck out Melvin Mora to end the game and receive his first save of the year.

Game Notes

Los Angeles called up shortstop Juan Castro from Albuquerque, optioned second baseman Ivan De Jesus to Albuquerque, and transferred catcher Hector Gimenez from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list on Friday...Padilla threw 32 pitches in the ninth before leaving with two outs...Ethier has reached base in 36 consecutive games.