Kemp extends on-base streak in loss
Padres right fielder reaches base in 25th straight game
SAN DIEGO -- Despite a strong start from pitcher Tyson Ross, the bats could not come through for the Padres, as San Diego fell to the Dodgers, 2-0, on Saturday night.
Dodgers' starting pitcher Alex Wood stifled the Padres, allowing three hits in seven scoreless innings and striking out four.
The Padres' bright spot was Matt Kemp, who had two singles, exending his on-base streak.
Kemp has reached base safely in 25 straight games, a season best and career best for the outfielder. His on-base streak is the longest active one in the National League and third longest in the Majors, trailing the Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion and the Twins' Joe Mauer.
"Credit to the Dodgers pitcher. He threw the ball really well and kept us off-balance," interim manager Pat Murphy said. "He's good, he's got 10 wins ... the changeup is good, breaking ball is good. He threw it when he wanted to and he kept the ball down, had us out in front all night and playing for it. He executed his pitches, so credit to him."
Murphy credited Ross with keeping "a formidable Dodgers lineup in check," stating that right-hander pitched well enough on Saturday to win.
"He didn't have his good slider tonight, but that shows you what a true warrior he is in terms of, he gave us six strong and he ran out of gas there, but he really pitches on guts after about inning two," Murphy said. "And he had a great outing. That wins a ballgame on a lot of other nights."
Video: LAD@SD: Ross strikes out three over six innnings
Ross allowed only one run on five hits over six innings. Ross gave up consecutive doubles in the fourth inning. The right-hander got out of jams without damage three times with runners in scoring position. His 3.21 ERA is now the lowest it's been since his first outing.
"I didn't have my best stuff tonight, but kind of grinded it out and just tried to keep us in there," Ross said. "The slider -- sometimes you got it, sometimes you don't. It's usually a big weapon for me, but tonight I didn't really have it going at any point. Just had to find ways around it."