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Kuroda goes for Dodgers in San Diego

Aug 2, 2011 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - The Dodgers have scored 23 runs since Hiroki Kuroda's last start. History says their bats are about to go cold tonight.

Kuroda hopes that isn't the case as he tries to avoid a National League-high 14th loss on the season this evening in the middle portion of a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

The 36-year-old Kuroda is actually just outside the top 10 in earned run average leaders in the National League with a 3.11 ERA. However, a constant lack of run support has translated that into just a 6-13 record. He has lost 10 of his past 11 decisions and has pitched to a 2.66 ERA in his last 10 starts, going 1-8 in that span thanks to just an average of 2.36 runs of support.

Kuroda, who drew interest before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline, has lost four straight starts despite going at least six innings in each outing and yielding just a total of 11 runs. He limited the Rockies to just one run on six hits and three walks over six innings on Wednesday, but was saddled with a 3-1 defeat.

"You feel bad for Hiroki. He does exactly what we tell him to do. He gives us a chance to win the game, and we didn't get him any runs," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

The right-hander has faced the Padres twice this season, holding them to a pair of runs over a total of 15 2/3. He came one out short of a shutout at San Diego on April 9 and is 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 12 career games versus the Padres.

Kuroda wouldn't mind the run support that ace Clayton Kershaw got in last night's opener, even if he didn't need it. Kershaw went the distance in a 6-2 win, allowing both runs on six hits while striking out four.

"That's what happens sometimes -- you don't have maybe strikeout stuff, but you have ground ball 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 and lost for the eighth time in 11 games.

Cory Luebke gave up five runs on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.

"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.

It has been a frustrating run for Mat Latos, with the Padres right-hander having not factored into the decision of his last three starts following consecutive defeats.

San Diego had lost each of his past four starts before besting the Diamondbacks on Thursday. Latos, winless since June 27, gave up three runs on four hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

The 23-year-old is 5-10 with a 4.10 ERA in 20 starts this year and 1-4 with a 2.70 ERA in six career meetings with the Dodgers. That includes a defeat in Los Angeles on July 8 as he gave up a run over 7 1/3 innings of a 1-0 setback.

The Dodgers have won seven of 10 over the Padres this year, including a three- game sweep at home in the last meeting on July 8-10.