Dodgers shoot for series win over Padres

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers are still struggling to score runs, but will shoot for a series win Saturday against the San Diego Padres in the second installment of a three-game set.

The Dodgers took Friday's opener 2-1 thanks to Joc Pederson's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Andre Ethier drove in the other run for the Dodgers, who won for the third time in the past nine tries.

"I just tried to get a good pitch to hit. I just tried to help the team win," Pederson said.

Zack Greinke did not post a decision in the start and limited the Padres to a run in 7 2/3 innings. Chris Hatcher picked up the win in relief and Kenley Jansen fanned two batters in the ninth for his second save.

The Dodgers have totaled just four runs in the last six games.

Mike Bolsinger gets the nod for Los Angeles Saturday and he is 2-0 with a 1.04 earned run average in three starts. He posted his second win in a row in Sunday's 1-0 decision versus Colorado and delivered six scoreless innings of three-hit ball.

Bolsinger lost his only career start against San Diego and was reached for two runs in six innings of work. He struck out six and walked four batters.

The Padres have lost three in a row and eight of their last 11 games. Will Venable recorded two hits and an RBI and Joaquin Benoit served up Pederson's home run to absorb the loss.

San Diego starter Andrew Cashner was sharp in six innings of work, allowing one unearned run and five hits.

"My fastball was working," Cashner said. "What makes me good is locating my fastball. There is no room for error facing Greinke."

Ian Kennedy tries to even this series for San Diego when he takes the ball. He is 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA in six starts and has lost back-to-back trips to the hill. In Sunday's 10-5 loss to Washington, Kennedy was reached for six runs in five innings and walked four batters.

Kennedy has issued seven walks in his past two starts and allowed eight runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 11-8 loss to the Dodgers on April 25. The right-hander has made 18 career starts against LA and is just 5-8 with a 4.58 ERA.

The Dodgers have won five of seven versus the Padres this season.