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Kennedy returns from DL to face Dodgers

Apr 25, 2015 - 12:28 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Brandon McCarthy tries to follow up his best start of the season on Saturday when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

After pitching to a 6.75 ERA in his first two starts McCarthy was terrific against Colorado on Sunday, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings to improve to 2-0, while lowering his ERA over two runs to 4.50.

"I came out of the gate hot, attacked a good team and it started to catch up with me on the back end," said McCarthy, who allowed four home runs in his previous start. "I avoided the middle of the plate against good hitters."

McCarthy has had success versus the Padres in his career and is 5-1 against them in seven starts with a 2.96 ERA.

San Diego, meanwhile, will welcome back right-hander Ian Kennedy, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Kennedy suffered a left hamstring strain in his first start against the San Francisco Giants, but had pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings up until that point.

Kennedy, who is a free agent at season's end, won 13 games for the Padres a year ago and struck out 207 batters over 201 innings.

With Kennedy back in the fold, Odrisamer Despaigne will return to the bullpen.

Zack Greinke threw seven flawless innings in Friday's opener, as Los Angeles picked up a 3-0 win.

The Padres were averaging an NL-best 5.0 runs per game coming into this series, but Greinke (3-0) silenced them to the tune of four singles and three walks. He struck out seven and improved to 5-0 in his career against San Diego.

Carl Crawford hit a solo homer, and Juan Uribe knocked in his first run of the year for the Dodgers, who bounced back from getting swept in San Francisco.

Andrew Cashner (1-3) took another tough loss having given up two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out six and only walked one, but his offense failed him again.

"He made some pitches. He's an All-Star pitcher," Padres manager Bud Black said of Greinke. "I think the story tonight was Greinke pitching really well."

On the injury front for the Dodgers Yasiel Puig took a 96 mph fastball off his left knee in the first inning, then later left the contest with an apparent injury to the same leg when trying to beat out an infield single in the sixth.

He is questionable for Saturday's contest.

The Dodgers took two of three from the Padres to start the season.