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Padres-Dodgers Preview

May 20, 2010 - 7:15 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (24-16) at Los Angeles (22-18), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Kevin Correia didn't need to wait long for a chance at redemption against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who suddenly seem a little more vulnerable.

After losing to the Dodgers over the weekend, Correia has a chance to help the San Diego Padres sweep a two-game set with a Los Angeles team trying to bounce back from its first defeat in 10 games Thursday night.

San Diego (24-16) beat Los Angeles 10-5 on Wednesday night for its second win in three games after being swept in a three-game set with the Dodgers (22-18). The NL West-leading Padres got a homer and a career-high six RBIs from Adrian Gonzalez, increasing their lead to 1 1/2 games over San Francisco and two over Los Angeles.

Nine straight wins helped the Dodgers gain ground on the Padres. Two of their victories over San Diego, though, were one-run games.

Correia (4-3, 4.35 ERA) faced the Dodgers on Saturday night, allowing four runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-1 loss. He started a week after his younger brother, Trevor, died after falling from a 60-foot cliff while hiking on Santa Cruz Island.

The right-hander is 3-2 with a 5.28 ERA in eight starts versus the Dodgers.

Manny Ramirez, 2 for 9 with three strikeouts against Correia, was scratched from the starting lineup just prior to the start of Wednesday's game due to an injured left foot.

Ramirez, who was hurt during pregame warmups, pinch-hit in the fifth and struck out. His status is uncertain.

"He's fine," manager Joe Torre said. "What happened was just one of those freak things. He was getting his legs loose like he does every night. ... It was sore, but for him to be able to pinch-hit was good."

The veteran slugger has seven RBIs in 10 games following a two-week stint on the disabled list due to a right calf strain.

Los Angeles is already without Andre Ethier, who was placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday with a broken finger. Ethier leads the Dodgers with a .392 average, 11 homers and 38 RBIs.

San Diego, meanwhile, rested struggling left fielder Kyle Blanks due to a strained right elbow. The severity of the injury is unknown.

Blanks is batting .157 and is 0 for 19 with 10 strikeouts over his last eight games.

Gonzalez's breakout game against Los Angeles was all San Diego needed. The two-time All-Star hit .163 (7 for 43) in his previous 13 games against the Dodgers.

Gonzalez entered the game with 19 RBIs after averaging 106 the past three years.

"My last two games I started making a couple of adjustments at the plate the last couple of at-bats," Gonzalez said. "I kept telling my wife 'It's close.'"

San Diego, which has scored 16 runs over its last two games, will now face Clayton Kershaw (3-2, 3.55). Kershaw matched up with Correia on Saturday, yielding one run and three hits while striking out seven in seven innings.

The left-hander has won two straight starts and has surrendered two runs or fewer in six of his last seven outings. He is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts against the Padres.