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Monday, Apr 9, 2012 12:15 AM UTC

Kemp, Ethier deliver as Dodgers lose 8-4 to Padres

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Topics: From the Wires,

Kemp, Ethier deliver as Dodgers lose 8-4 to PadresSan Diego Padres' Yonder Alonso is tagged out at third base by Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe, right, in the third inning during a baseball game Sunday, April 8, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)(Credit: AP)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Winning three of the season’s first four against the San Diego Padres was a pretty good accomplishment for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Clayton Richard and two relievers combined on a four-hitter, Chase Headley hit a grand slam and Andy Parrino had his first big league homer for the Padres, who beat the Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday to avoid a four-game sweep.

“We played well the last three games,” said Matt Kemp, who lined a two-run homer to straightaway center field in the sixth. “Today they just kind of outhit us and scored more runs than us. Our objective is at least to try to win every series, and that’s what we accomplished on the first road trip.”

Headley’s second career slam, off Scott Elbert in the eighth, ended his 0-for-12 slump to start the season. Headley also walked three times.

Still, the Padres had their second three-error game of the series and have committed eight in four games. Richard made two errors, one on a routine throw to first and the other while covering the bag.

Richard’s only other mistake in seven dominant innings was allowing Kemp’s two-run homer with two outs in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Mark Ellis was aboard on a leadoff error by right fielder Will Venable.

Kemp has two homers and eight RBIs after four games. Andre Ethier also hit a two-run homer, his first, off Ernesto Frieri in the ninth. Ethier has eight RBIs as well.

“Both of us are going to need to step up and do some things to help this team win. The team counts on us to drive in runs. That’s our job and that’s what we’re going to have to do to be successful,” Kemp said.

“Those guys going good is something we want, obviously, and we talk about the combination of those two guys that we can kind of build with,” manager Don Mattingly said.

Richard (1-0) allowed just one other hit, struck out three and walked none. The two runs he allowed were unearned.

Richard didn’t allow a runner until his fielding error allowed Dee Gordon to reach leading off the fourth, and didn’t give up a hit until Juan Uribe singled to right in the fifth.

The Padres, bedeviled in the first three games by errors, strikeouts and a lack of hitting, took their first lead of the season on Jesus Guzman’s RBI single with one out in the first off former teammate Aaron Harang. It scored leadoff batter Cameron Maybin, who was hit by a pitch and stole second. Yonder Alonso followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Padres added an unearned run in the third when Guzman reached on shortstop Uribe’s fielding error and eventually scored on John Baker’s single.

Parrino homered for a 4-0 lead in the fourth, an opposite-field shot for the switch-hitter that landed in the Padres’ bullpen beyond the fence in left-center.

Harang (0-1), who led his hometown Padres with 14 wins last year before signing with the Dodgers as a free agent, had a rough return to Petco Park. He allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 4 1-3 innings while walking five and striking out six.

“I felt I was very inconsistent,” Harang said. “I felt like I was never able to hit my spots. I felt like I was pitching kind of tight, kind of tense or something.”

NOTES: The Padres put RHP Dustin Moseley on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, their second starter to be sidelined in less than a week. Moseley allowed five runs in a 6-5, 11-inning loss to the Dodgers on Saturday night. Tim Stauffer, who had been expected to start the season opener Thursday, was placed on the DL that day, retroactive to Wednesday, with a strained right elbow. … The Padres filled Moseley’s roster spot by recalling LHP Josh Spence from Triple-A Tucson. The Australian made his big league debut with the Padres last season. … San Diego manager Bud Black said Anthony Bass will start either Thursday, which would have been Moseley’s next start, or Saturday. … Both teams are off Monday before resuming play Tuesday. The Dodgers play their home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Clayton Kershaw scheduled to start against Kevin Correia. Kershaw started the season opener Thursday against the Padres but left after three innings with the flu. San Diego hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, with Edinson Volquez scheduled to start against Trevor Cahill.

Bernie Wilson

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