When the Dodgers needed a big hit on Friday night, Matt Kemp got just enough of one to lead the way.
Kemp's two-run homer in the seventh was enough for the Dodgers to claim a 4-3 win over the first place Padres. It was his first since April 21 in Cincinnati, and couldn't have come at a better time.
Coming into this game, the Dodgers found themselves needing someone to make another spot start. Joe Torre has called on the likes of Carlos Monasterios and John Ely in the past, and this time it was Ramon Ortiz. It wasn't a favorable choice considering his ERA was 5.16 coming in.
All things considered, Ortiz really didn't do that badly. The goal was to pitch effectively enough to keep the Dodgers in the game. Three runs in four innings doesn't look that great, but it allowed the bats a chance to win the game later.
The first part of the game featured the Padres going back and forth between being up one and being tied. Adrian Gonzalez got them on the board in the first with a solo homer. It could have been worse, though, as Tony Gwynn got caught stealing right before that.
The Dodgers tied it back up in the third, but blew a golden opportunity to get more. Three straight singles by Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier off of Jon Garland started the inning. Manny lined a single to right, but only one run scored because it was hit so hard.
James Loney has been great in his career with the bases loaded, but he feebly popped up to the infield. Casey Blake then grounded into a double play, and the Dodgers only got one run out of it.
Will Venable got an RBI single to give the Padres the lead back in the third. In the fifth, the Dodgers again tied it on Ethier's RBI double to right center. The ball was inches away from going out, and sure looked like it would at first. But, that's Petco Park for you.
Ortiz started the fifth, but a walk to Gwynn and single by David Eckstein brought in George Sherrill. I haven't been able to say this much (if at all), but Sherrill did a great job. Gonzalez popped up, Chase Headley hit an RBI groundout, and Venable struck out swinging. Now that's the Sherrill we've been waiting to see.
The Dodgers kept the game close all game long, and were waiting to get that one big blow. It happened in the seventh, and started with Martin's double. Kemp then just put one out of the reach of Gwynn in center, putting the Dodgers up for good at 4-3.
Ronald Belisario and Hong-Chih Kuo teamed up to pitch the eighth. It ended with Kuo striking out Gonzalez. Like Sherrill, it's good to see those two regaining their dominant form.
The bases were left loaded again in the ninth, as Loney struck out this time around. Jonathan Broxton got all three batters faced for his fifth save.
With the way the Padres have opened the season, this has to be considered a big win. Plus, the Dodgers in recent history always seem to struggle in San Diego. So, it's a great sign to watch them fight their way to a win. That's now seven wins in the last eight.
Clayton Kershaw is coming off of a great start against the Rockies and Ubaldo Jimenez last Sunday. He got an extra day of rest, so should be ready to go today.
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