Dodgers Nip Padres 3-2 In Series Opener

The Dodgers held a comfortable 3-1 lead against the Padres, which given the way the San Diego offense has performed of late, should have been enough. And it was. Barely. Jonathan Broxton held on to get the save and beat the Padres 3-2 Friday night at Dodger Stadium, thanks in large part to Tony Gwynn Jr. making a diving catch of what would have been a two-run double.

The win for the Dodgers was their second straight, and moved them to 14-13 on the season. Ted Lilly allowed one run in six innings for his second victory of the year. Lilly retired the last eight batters he faced, but he was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth because the Dodgers had a scoring opportunity in what was then a 2-1 contest.

The Dodgers got solo home runs from Juan Uribe and Matt Kemp, and Uribe added a double as well. Uribe has 12 hits in his last 26 at-bats, spread over several games. Uribe's start tonight was his first in six games, though he did pinch hit twice in the last two games. Andre Ethier also extended his hitting streak to 25 games, extending his own April MLB record.

The Padres' offensive woes continue, as they have scored 18 runs in their last 11 games, including two runs or less in nine of those games. San Diego has lost nine of their last 11 ballgames.

Hong-Chih Kuo pitched a rehab game tonight. True Blue LA has the details:

Hong-Chih Kuo was eligible to come off the disabled list today, but the Dodgers sent him back for more games on a minor league rehab assignment (he allowed runs on Monday and Tuesday in back-to-back outings). Kuo pitched a scoreless inning tonight in Adelanto, pitching for the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes against the High Desert Mavericks. Kuo struck out the first two batters he faced, then allowed a single and lineout to end the inning. Kuo is slated to pitch again for Rancho Cucamonga again on Sunday, after which he will be reevaluated by the Dodgers and could possibly be activated from the disabled list.

For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.

With a double in the fifth inning Friday night, Dodgers' outfielder Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 25 games, extending his own MLB record for longest hitting streak in April. The single off Clayton Richard of the Padres tied Ethier with Willie Davis (1971), Steve Sax (1986), and Paul LoDuca (2003) for the second longest hitting streak by a Dodger since the franchise moved to Los Angeles.

All three of Davis, Sax, and LoDuca made the All-Star team during the season of their 25-game hitting streak. Buzz Boyle also had a 25-game hitting streak for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934. Davis holds the all-time Dodgers franchise record with a 31-game hitting streak in 1969. During his streak, Ethier is hitting .400/.472/.600 with 13 extra-base hits and 16 RBI in 25 games. The Dodgers lead the Padres 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth.

For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.

The Los Angeles Dodgers open a six-game homestand Friday night with the San Diego Padres. They will be without their third basemen, as Casey Blake has been placed on the disabled list. Blake experienced swelling in his left elbow while the Dodgers were in Florida, then was admitted to a hospital after the elbow became infected. The Dodgers have called up Russ Mitchell from Triple A Albuquerque to take Blake's spot on the roster.

Here are tonight's lineups, which feature James Loney sitting against the left-handed Clayton Richard, and Jerry Sands playing his first major league game at first base.

Padres (9-16)

Maybin CF
Bartlett SS
Ludwick LF
Cantu 1B
Denorfia RF
Hudson 2B
Headley 3B
Hundley C
Richard P

Dodgers (13-13)

Carroll SS
Sands 1B
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Uribe 3B
Thames LF
Barajas C
Miles 2B
Lilly P

Tonight's 7:10 p.m. game will be on Prime Ticket.

For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.