Harang, Dodgers Salvage Split In San Diego

Aaron Harang pitched his best game of the season, and the Dodgers offense came alive on Thursday night in a 8-1 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park to snap a two-game losing streak. The Dodgers have lost two straight games four times this season, and each time they were able to stop the skid after two games.

For the second time in as many games in San Diego, the Dodgers held a 2-0 lead after just four batters. Dee Gordon walked and scored one out later on a triple by Bobby Abreu. Andre Ethier followed with a bloop single to right field to score Abreu.

Unlike Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers were able to add on to their early lead. They scored once in the second inning, an inning for with two singles and a walk in which the Dodgers' three outs were a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly, and an out on the bases, as Tony Gwynn Jr. was caught around third on an infield single. Gwynn was retired with a routine 4-5-2-5-3-4 putout.

Two doubles in the fifth inning, plus a two-base error by center fielder Cameron Maybin, led to two more Dodgers runs and a 5-0 lead. One of those doubles was by Abreu, who has more extra-base hits this season (eight doubles, one triple) than singles (seven).

Four more singles in the seventh inning added a pair of runs to the Dodgers' ledger. All nine Dodgers starters reached base via hit or walk

All this offense was in support of Harang, who pitched seven scoreless innings for his second straight win. Harang struck out six with no walks and allowed just four hits. The Padres never had much of a rally off Harang as three of the four hits came with two outs. Two of the four hits off Harang were doubles by catcher John Baker.

In his last two starts, Harang has allowed one run in 15 innings, and he has six quality starts in his last seven outings.

Harang was not only good on the mound on Thursday, but he also snapped an 0-for-42 skid with an infield RBI single in the top of the seventh.

Today's Particulars

Home Runs: none

WP - Aaron Harang (3-2): 7 IP, 4 hits, 6 strikeouts

LP - Edinson Volquez (2-3): 5 IP, 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 3 walks, 6 strikeouts