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Ellis' sac fly helps Dodgers edge Padres

Jul 13, 2014 - 7:11 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - A.J. Ellis plated the game's lone run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 1-0 decision from the San Diego Padres in a pitcher's duel from Dodger Stadium.

After Ian Kennedy tossed eight dominant innings for the Padres, Kevin Quackenbush (1-2) came on for the ninth and failed to replicate the success of his starter. Adrian Gonzalez set the tone with a leadoff double. Andre Ethier was intentionally walked two batters later, Juan Uribe reached on balls to load the bases and Ellis lined a 1-2 offering to deep right field, plating Gonzalez without a throw.

"Obviously he's the right guy for the situation," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Ellis. "He's going to make you throw a strike."

Gonzalez had two of LA's four hits in the game.

Paul Maholm made his first start since May 14 for Los Angeles and shined, yielding just two hits over six-plus innings of work. Brandon League and J.P. Howell each worked scoreless innings in relief and Kenley Jansen (1-3) pitched out of a jam in the ninth to earn the win.

Maholm faced the minimum through 3 1/3 before Chase Headley finally reached with a single with one gone in the fourth. He was stranded when Carlos Quentin flied out to center and Yasmani Grandal grounded out.

Headley went 2-for-4 in the setback.

The Dodgers didn't threaten until the home seventh, when Ethier walked and Uribe singled. Ellis flied out and Miguel Rojas fouled out, as LA remained off the scoreboard. Matt Kemp led off the inning with a walk but was caught stealing second base during Ethier's at-bat.

After both teams went down in order in the eighth, San Diego put a scare into Jansen, normally the Dodgers' closer. Seth Smith and Quentin singled to put two on, but Grandal went down swinging on a high fastball for the final out in the half inning.

Kennedy allowed three hits and four walks while striking out eight.

"Our pitching has been really good," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We've got to get our bats going."

Game Notes

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was ejected in the bottom of the third inning for arguing with home plate umpire David Rackley after striking out looking ... Carl Crawford, who came off the bench Friday in his first action since an ankle injury on May 28 forced him to miss time on the disabled list, replaced Puig and went 0-for-2 ... Kennedy is winless in his last six starts against the Dodgers ... Maholm came out of the bullpen in his last 14 appearances.