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Padres, Volquez wrap up set with Dodgers

May 17, 2012 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - After a slow start to his San Diego career, Edinson Volquez is beginning to look like the top-of-the-rotation hurler his club needs.

Volquez goes after a third straight victory this evening as the Padres try to hand the Los Angeles Dodgers a season-high third straight loss in the finale of a two-game series.

Acquired this offseason in a deal that sent Mat Latos to the Reds, Volquez went winless in his first six outings with the Padres. The right-hander has logged a 1.42 earned run average over his last four starts, however, and has given up just three runs in winning consecutive starts.

He found the win column for the first time as a Padre on May 7, giving up two runs over 5 1/3 innings versus the Rockies. Volquez followed that up with six innings of one-run ball on Saturday to beat the hosting Phillies and ace Roy Halladay.

"When you eke out a win against (Halladay) in their park it says something about how we played and how we pitched," said Padres manager Bud Black. "Volquez matched him inning for inning."

The 28-year-old's early-season struggles included two appearances versus the Dodgers in which he went 0-1 with a 5.40 earned run average. That includes a loss at home on April 5 and he has walked nine in 10 innings against Los Angeles this season.

Volquez won't have to face the injured Matt Kemp, who is 3-for-5 against him this year with a homer and two RBI but is on the DL with a hamstring injury.

However, Volquez will be opposite Aaron Harang, who is coming off his best outing as a Dodger.

The 34-year-old righty snapped a three-start winless streak (0-1) with a victory over the Rockies on Saturday. He allowed just one run on four hits and two walks over a season-high eight innings of a 2-1 triumph, moving to 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA this season.

Harang has also squared off against his hometown Padres, who he went 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA in 28 starts with last season, twice in 2012. He lost to them on April 8 in his Dodgers debut, yielding four runs -- three earned -- over 4 1/3 innings. Harang then faced them five days later at home in a no-decision, striking out 13 over 6 1/3 innings, including a Dodgers record nine straight at one point.

The Dodgers have lost two straight for only the fourth time this season, dropping last night's contest 4-2. Andre Ethier and Elian Herrera both drove in a run, while Chris Capuano was charged with four runs -- three earned -- over 6 1/3 innings to suffer his first loss of the season (5-1).

"For the most part I felt pretty good," said Capuano. "I just got in trouble when I got the ball up a little bit."

While Capuano dropped his first decision, Padres starter Clayton Richard snapped a five-game losing streak by pitching seven innings of two-run ball. He retired the final 11 batters faced and did not walk a batter while striking out six.

"When you eliminate free passes and putting people on base yourself, you give yourself a better chance to succeed," said Richard. "That's no secret."

Chase Headley drove in three runs with a solo homer and a two-run double, while Cameron Maybin also had an RBI in San Diego's second straight win after dropping four of five. They have yet to win three games in a row this season.

The Dodgers have won 20 of their past 27 versus the Padres, including six of eight so far this season. Los Angeles won three of four in San Diego from April 5-8.