The Dodgers finished their sweep of the Padres with a couple of firsts on Sunday afternoon. Ted Lilly actually allowed a run, the first tally off Dodger pitching in four games. Andre Ethier homered twice, breaking a streak of 10 games and 404 plate appearances by Dodger batters without a home run. The Dodgers' 4-1 win was their fourth straight win, their longest winning streak of the season.
Lilly allowed a home run to catcher Rob Johnson, but that was the only run allowed in Lilly's five innings of work. Lilly allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven for his first win in five starts. With the All-Star break starting Monday, the Dodgers had their full bullpen at their disposal, and five relievers pitched the final four innings to close out the win. Javy Guerra pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Ethier had the 11th multi-home-run game of his career, and his first since May 2, 2010, which was before he broke his pinkie. The second home run came off Josh Spence, the first home run by Ethier off a southpaw this season. "It was good and to get the lefty too," manager Don Mattingly said after the game. "Those were add-on runs...we got a chance to score early and they got out of it, but Andre's add-on runs make it a little more comfortable over there as the game goes on."
Matt Kemp stole his 27th base of the season in the third inning, the most steals by the Dodgers at the All-Star break since Juan Pierre, who had 35 steals before the break in 2008. The win moved the Dodgers past the Padres into fourth place in the National League West. The Dodgers will hold a full team workout in Arizona on Thursday, and begin a series with the Diamondbacks on Friday.
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