Joc backs Zack's attack vs. Padres
LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Joc Pederson hit a tiebreaking homer on an 0-2 pitch from Joaquin Benoit in the eighth inning and Zack Greinke spun a gem on Friday night as the Dodgers edged the Padres, 2-1. It was Pederson's 11th home run.
Earlier in the game, the Dodgers finally ended an historic scoring drought with a fifth-inning run. Justin Turner singled off Andrew Cashner, advanced to second on center fielder Will Venable's fielding error and was doubled home by Andre Ethier to snap a Dodgers scoreless streak of 35 consecutive innings, matching the record set in 1962 for the longest in Los Angeles history.
"Dre's hit was huge. It broke the ice for us," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
San Diego tied the game in the seventh on a one-out double by Derek Norris and a single to center by Venable, Norris ruled safe at the plate by umpire Brian O'Nora, with the call allowed to stand upon review.
Greinke allowed that run on six hits in 7 2/3 innings. Cashner allowed one run on five hits in six innings. Chris Hatcher threw one pitch and was credited with his first Major League win, while Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth inning for the save.
"Both guys pitched great. That was two high-end pitchers, battling," said Padres manager Bud Black of Greinke and Cashner.
Video: SD@LAD: Jansen whiffs Middlebrooks to save 2-1 win
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Greinke's dual threat: Greinke won a Gold Glove last season and showed why on former teammate Kemp's dribbler, backhanding it and throwing out Kemp to strand Solarte at third base in the sixth inning with the score knotted at 1.
"It was just reaction," said Greinke. "I knew the infield was playing deep and I knew it would be a hit if I didn't make the play. It wasn't a great play, but a solid play."
Video: SD@LAD: Greinke strikes out five in no-decision
Padres can't Cash in: Venable's RBI accounted for only the Padres' third run scored behind Cashner over his last six starts. That run was a big one, as it tied the game a half-inning after a dominant Greinke was given a 1-0 lead. More >
Video: LAD@SD: Norris scores on close play at the plate
Tough night for Grandal: Former Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal was struck on the face mask by the bat of Yangervis Solarte on his follow-through when he popped out to end the third inning. Grandal then took a Matt Kemp foul tip off the mask with one out in the fourth, flied out to deep center to end the bottom of that inning and was removed with possible concussion symptoms before the start of the fifth. More >
Video: SD@LAD: Grandal leaves game after hit on backswing
Kemp getting it done on D: Kemp has struggled at the plate this month, but his legs -- and glove -- were in fine form on Friday. The right fielder made a nice running catch of Ethier's drive to the warning track in right to end the second inning. One inning later, he stole a hit from Jimmy Rollins with a diving grab in shallow right-center field.
Video: SD@LAD: Kemp makes a great diving catch to end 3rd
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Los Angeles Dodgers ended a record-tying scoreless streak on Ethier's double on Friday, but the franchise record is 41 straight scoreless innings by the Brooklyn Dodgers from Aug. 21-24, 1937.
Video: SD@LAD: Ethier drives in Turner with a double
Cashner has been the Padres' hard-luck pitcher this season. Not just because of a lack of run support, either. Venable's error led to the 12th unearned run Cashner has been charged with this season.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Mattingly rolled the dice when Norris was called safe scoring the tying run in the seventh. Norris beat the throw from Pederson in center field, but it looked as though Norris' lead leg was elevated as it crossed the plate, allowing a late tag by Ellis to get the out, but the review proved inconclusive. The Dodgers are 3-for-13 in challenges this season.
"I thought they were going to overturn it with the way my luck has been going," said Cashner, who has seen the Padres score three runs for him in his last six combined starts.
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: Ian Kennedy (2-3, 6.75 ERA) gets a chance at redemption on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. During an outing against Los Angeles last month, he allowed a season-high eight runs. But he was able to identify a mechanical flaw after the game.
Dodgers: Mike Bolsinger is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in three starts for the Dodgers. With the D-backs last season, he allowed the Padres two runs on three hits in six innings.