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Dodgers beat Padres behind Kershaw CG

Aug 2, 2011 - 7:06 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Clayton Kershaw sparkled for the Dodgers Monday, going the distance en route to a 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game set at Petco Park.

Kershaw (13-4) gave up two runs on six hits while fanning four and walking two.

"That's what happens sometimes -- you don't have maybe strikeout stuff, but you have groundball stuff, and you just go with it," Kershaw said. "They were ... aggressive tonight, and I paid for it some, but I also got some quick outs."

Casey Blake went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Matt Kemp, Rod Barajas and Jamey Carroll all added two hits for the Dodgers, who bounced back after losing two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend.

Orlando Hudson smacked a solo home run and Jesus Guzman chipped in with a pair of hits for the Padres, who were unable to build upon an 8-3 win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Cory Luebke (3-6) gave up five runs on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings to absorb the loss. He fanned three and did not issue a walk.

"I felt good. I let some decision-making kind of determine the outcome of the game, and that's just more frustrating than anything," Luebke said.

The Dodgers took the lead for good in the fourth, when Kemp led off with a double and scored on a double by Barajas two batters later.

Los Angeles extended its lead to 4-1 in the fifth. Carroll hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kershaw. Dee Gordon followed and hit a fielder's choice which allowed Carroll to score and Kershaw to advance to second, giving the Dodgers runners on first and second with no outs.

Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch by Luebke, and Kershaw scored when Blake lofted a sacrifice fly to left.

The Padres cut the deficit to two in the seventh on Hudson's leadoff homer. He blasted Kershaw's offering over the wall in center field for his third home run of the season.

Los Angeles got two more runs in the eighth to make it a 6-2 game. Andre Ethier reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a triple by Kemp. Juan Rivera then drove in Kemp with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Padres opened the scoring in their first at-bat. Cameron Maybin walked, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on Guzman's single to center.

Los Angeles tied the game in the next inning. Rivera ripped a one-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by Barajas. Rivera then trotted home on a sacrifice fly by James Loney.

Game Notes

Prior to Monday's game, the Padres optioned pitcher Wade LeBlanc to Triple-A Tucson and recalled outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Blake Tekotte from Tucson and Double-A San Antonio...Los Angeles is 21-22 against the National League West, while the Padres are 16-24 against teams in their own division...Kershaw's 13th victory ties him with Philadelphia's Roy Halladay and Arizona's Ian Kennedy for the National League lead...It was Kershaw's fourth complete game of the season, and fifth of his career.