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Richard strong as Padres salvage one against Dodgers

Apr 9, 2012 - 12:54 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Clayton Richard's 2011 was cut short due to a shoulder issue that eventually required surgery.

The southpaw displayed no rust in his first outing since last July 4, limiting the Los Angeles Dodgers to just two hits over seven strong innings as the San Diego Padres posted an 8-4 victory Sunday and salvaged the finale of a four- game series at PETCO Park.

Chase Headley clubbed a game-sealing grand slam in the eighth inning for the Padres, who avoided their first 0-4 start in 18 years.

San Diego native and former Padre Aaron Harang (0-1) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits, walked five and struck out six in 4 1/3 innings.

"We just weren't able to scratch anything together," said Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly.

The Dodgers were looking to open 4-0 for the first time since their 1981 championship season.

Richard (1-0) committed two of San Diego's three errors, but a misplay by right fielder Will Venable led to Los Angeles getting on the board. Pinch- hitter Mark Ellis reached base when Venable dropped a fly ball to start the sixth. The next two batters were retired but Matt Kemp launched a two-run homer over the wall in center, trimming the deficit to 4-2.

San Diego extended its lead on Headley's first hit of the season. After pinch- hitter Jeremy Hermida, Cameron Maybin and Venable singled to load the bases with no outs, Headley snapped an 0-for-12 drought and crushed Scott Elbert's offering to left field for his second career grand slam.

"I felt like I was seeing the ball a lot better, all day I had better at- bats," Headley said.

Elbert had relieved Todd Coffey earlier in the eighth.

Andre Ethier hit a two-run shot in the ninth off San Diego's Ernesto Frieri to complete the scoring.

Harang, who led the Padres with 14 wins last season and compiled a career-low 3.64 ERA, hit Maybin to begin the bottom of the first inning and issued a one- out walk to Headley, who advanced to third on Jesus Guzman's RBI single to left and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yonder Alonso.

John Baker added an RBI single in the third, and Andy Parrino's first major league home run put the Padres up 4-0 in the fourth.

Game Notes

The Padres placed pitcher Dustin Moseley on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right shoulder and recalled left-hander Josh Spence from Triple-A Tucson. Moseley gave up five runs over five innings to the Dodgers on Saturday...Richard improved to 5-1 lifetime against the Dodgers...Headley walked three times...Maybin stole two bases...The Dodgers' last four-game sweep in San Diego was from June 28-July 1, 2001...Kemp has a 16-game hitting streak dating back to last season and has hit safely in each of his last nine games against the Padres.