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Ryu hopes to get on track for Dodgers against Padres

Aug 30, 2013 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - Hyun-Jin Ryu tries to put the brakes on a personal two-game losing streak Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Ryu had won six consecutive decisions before losing his last two. The Korean lefty was banged around by the Boston Red Sox for four runs - all in the first inning - and five hits in five innings, dropping him to 12-5 to go along with a 3.08.

"I don't think it's the issue of warming up," Ryu said through a translator. "It seems as the game goes on my body seems to relax more."

Los Angeles shook off a series loss to Boston to take two of three from the Chicago Cubs. In Wednesday's rubber match, Hanley Ramirez belted a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning and Ricky Nolasco spun a gem in the 4-0 win.

Nolasco (11-9) went eight innings, yielding just three hits and a walk while matching a season-high with 11 strikeouts.

"My breaking stuff was pretty good," said Nolasco. "It feels good to be able to help this team. Mentally, I feel focused. To be in a rotation with (Clayton) Kershaw and (Zack) Greinke is an honor."

The Dodgers, of course, own a major league-best 31-8 record since the All-Star break and lead the National League West by 9 1/2 games.

San Diego sits 18 games back of the Dodgers and enters this series after salvaging the finale of its three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Getting the call for the Padres on Friday will be lefty Eric Stults, who is 8-11 with a 3.72 ERA. Stults lost to Chicago on Saturday, surrendering three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 frames.

Stults is 3-8 with a 4.93 ERA in 14 starts.