Dodgers 6 - 2 Padres
Final
  for this game

Kershaw, Dodgers conclude set with Padres

Sep 25, 2011 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - Lefty Clayton Kershaw takes the mound today for the first time since a milestone win when his Los Angeles Dodgers visit Petco Park to close out a three-game weekend series with the San Diego Padres.

Kershaw was a 2-1 winner over San Francisco in his last outing on Sept. 20, giving up just a run on six hits in 7 1/3 innings to become the Dodgers' first 20-game winner since Ramon Martinez was 20-6 for them in 1990.

The 23-year-old has won seven straight decisions over a month-and-a-half since dropping a 4-3 verdict at Arizona on Aug. 7.

He last met the Padres on Aug. 29 in Los Angeles and threw a gem, going the full nine innings and allowing just a run on six hits in a 4-1 victory. Kershaw is 6-3 lifetime against the Padres in 12 starts with a 2.31 earned run average.

San Diego starts second-year lefty Cory Luebke, who allowed just two runs on a hit in seven innings his last time out. The 26-year-old walked three and struck out nine in an 8-2 defeat of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, his first win since Aug. 16.

Luebke had gone 0-3 in five starts since that victory, but has allowed more than three runs just one time in nine appearances since Aug. 1.

He dropped a 6-2 decision to the Dodgers 10 outings ago after allowing 10 hits and five runs in 7 1/3 innings.

On Saturday, Aaron Harang threw eight superb innings and Heath Bell finished off a four-hit shutout as the Padres downed the Dodgers, 3-0, in the second game of their three-game series.

Harang (14-7) had five strikeouts, did not walk a batter and allowed just three hits to carry San Diego to its third shutout victory in eight games.

"I went out there and was throwing strikes early in the count," Harang said. "I felt like everything was working today."

Will Venable singled in Anthony Rizzo with a base hit up the middle in the fifth and Orlando Hudson followed with a base hit through the left side to score Andy Parrino.

Those hits came off Chad Billingsley (11-11), who was charged with three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and three walks in a five-inning start.

"He was really good. ... He just had a rough inning," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Billingsley's outing.

Los Angeles has owned the Padres this season, going 12-5 against them, including wins in five of the eight meetings in San Diego.






Related News