Clayton Kershaw tries to bounce back from his first loss of the season on Wednesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw had been nearly flawless his first two times out, but ran into some trouble against Arizona on Friday. The former NL Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs - his first ones of the season - and six hits in 7 1/3 frames. He also struck out nine batters to give him 999 for his career, but fell to 2-1, while raising his ERA to 1.16.
"It was a battle for me tonight," Kershaw said.
Kershaw has faced the Padres 17 times and is 8-3 against them with a 2.28 ERA.
San Diego will counter with righty Tyson Ross, who is 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA. Ross did not get a decision against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, as he allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 frames.
After losing five in a row, San Diego has bounced back with wins in the first two games of this set. On Tuesday, Jason Marquis pitched into the eighth inning and the Padres erupted for 15 hits in a 9-2 rout.
Marquis (1-1) retired 12 straight at one point and limited the Dodgers to one run on three hits and one walk over 7 1/3 innings.
Alexi Amarista went 3-for-5 with four RBI, Yonder Alonso had three hits, scored twice and knocked in two and Nick Hundley also plated a pair for the Padres, who are just 4-10 on the season.
Chris Capuano (0-1), taking the rotation spot of the injured Zack Greinke, was shelled for five runs on five hits and two walks before leaving with a left calf strain in the third inning.
The Dodgers have now lost three in a row and four of their last five.
Los Angeles took two of three from the Padres last week after winning last year's season series, 11-7.
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