The Los Angeles Dodgers had a wild and wacky night at Dodger Stadium Friday night, but in the end the result was still the same. The Dodgers won 9-8 over the Padres, with the winning run coming from a bases loaded walk to Andre Ethier with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Dodgers are now 7-1 on the season, the best record in baseball, including 4-0 at Dodger Stadium.
While the ending was a happy won for the Dodgers, it was quite a roller coaster ride to get there. Aaron Harang started and after a leadoff single to open the game he struck out nine straight Padres, setting a new franchise record for most consecutive strikeouts. Harang ended his night with 13 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, but he didn't get the win.
The Padres scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull within 8-6, then tied the game in the ninth inning when Chase Headley hit a two-run home run off Kenley Jansen with two outs.
The bottom of the ninth inning began innocently enough as Andrew Cashner retired the first two batters with ease. But then Cashner issued walks to Mark Ellis, Matt Kemp, and James Loney to load the bases. In came lefty Joe Thatcher to face Ethier, and the fourth straight walk won the game for the Dodgers. Ethier had three RBI in the game and has 13 RBI in eight games on the year.
Kemp hit is third home run of the season earlier in the game. The Dodgers go for their fifth straight win on Saturday, with Ted Lilly coming off the disabled list to make his first start of the season.
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