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LA's Ethier puts hit streak on line in finale with Padres

May 1, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - Andre Ethier tries to run his hit streak to 27 games this afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the rubber match of their three- game series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Ethier's magical start to the season continued on Saturday, as he extended his run to 26 in the Dodgers' 5-2 setback. Ethier's tear is now second on the all- time franchise list, five behind Willie Davis' 31-game streak in 1969.

"It's fun, it's enjoyable," Ethier said. "It's nothing where I'm going to lose sleep at night. I want to go out there and get hits every at-bat, it doesn't matter if there's a streak or not. I want to go out there and get hits and figure out a way to do that. If I haven't gotten one the first two, three at- bats, I'm still going up there trying to get a hit. Not necessarily for the streak, but to add what we're trying to do there as a team."

Ethier has raised his average from .125 to .380 since the streak began and his 40 hits in April also tied a club record, shared by Mike Piazza (1996) and Rafael Furcal (2008).

The Dodgers, though, found themselves on the wrong end on Saturday, as Cameron Maybin capped a three-run eighth inning with an RBI single and Ryan Ludwick and Tim Stauffer each drove in a run for the Padres, who snapped a three-game skid.

Stauffer went 6 2/3 innings in the start for San Diego, allowing two runs on four hits. Luke Gregerson (1-1) recorded the final out in the seventh to pick up the win.

"The ball bounced our way tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Tim pitched well. He had a good fastball with sink to it and good curveball action."

Tony Gwynn Jr. and James Loney each had an RBI for the Dodgers, who won 3-2 in the series opener on Friday.

Hiroki Kuroda gave up two runs on five hits in a seven-inning start for LA. Matt Guerrier (2-2) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on three hits in the eighth to suffer the loss.

"It was a good game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We didn't get the hit we needed."

The Padres pin their hopes today on righty Dustin Moseley, who is 0-3, but has pitched to a 1.99 ERA and had received a total of one run of support heading into his last start against Atlanta. Moseley gave up three runs in six innings of that one, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 5-3 win.

Moseley lost to the Dodgers earlier in the year and is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three games (one start) against them.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with righty Jon Garland, who was 14-12 last season for the Padres. He started this year on the disabled list for the Dodgers, but has pitched well since returning, as he is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA.

Garland has faced the Padres six times and is 2-3 against them with a 3.55 ERA.

Los Angeles took two of three from the Padres earlier in the year at Petco Park. San Diego, though, won five of its nine matchups at Chavez Ravine a year ago.