Padres 6, Dodgers 2: Only room for one name on the Marquis

Jason Marquis outpitched Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday night as the Dodgers fell to the Padres 6-2 at Dodger Stadium, unable to complete their home sweep.

The Dodgers never led on the night, but after they clawed back from a 3-0 deficit to within one run San Diego broke it open with three runs in the ninth inning.

Marquis has always enjoyed facing the Dodgers and pitching at Dodger Stadium, and Wednesday looked like it would be his best performance yet in Los Angeles. He didn't allow a hit until Skip Schumaker doubled with two outs in the sixth inning. Schumaker eventually scored, and Marquis settled for allowing two runs while pitching into the seventh.

In 18 career games against the Dodgers, including 17 starts, Marquis is 8-4 with a 2.54 ERA, his second best mark against any team. At Dodger Stadium he has been even better, at 6-3 with a 2.46 ERA in 11 starts.

Scott Van Slyke inched the Dodgers closer with a solo home run in the seventh to cut the deficit to 3-2 and end the night for Marquis. It was the sixth home run in 19 games for Van Slyke, who leads the Dodgers in both home runs and extra-base hits (11) since getting recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on May 10.

Kershaw struck out nine in six innings, but was victimized by a couple dozen foul balls and threw 120 pitches. The mortal version of Kershaw allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks.

Kershaw wasn't the only one who was human on Wednesday night for the Dodgers. Yasiel Puig was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and a nation wept.

Notes

• The double for Schumaker extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career high set in 2009 with St. Louis. During the streak Schumaker is hitting .400 (16-for-40) with three doubles.
• With his RBI single in the sixth inning, Adrian Gonzalez is now 12-for-18 (.667) with two doubles with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.
• After Puig's first hitless night in the majors, his production dipped to .417/.417/1.000 in three games.
• Paco Rodriguez got the final two outs of the eighth inning, then was left in to start the ninth. Only he didn't get anybody out. After a single and two walks to open the frame Rodriguez was removed, after a career high three walks issued and a whopping 40 pitches.
• Kershaw has eight walks in his last three starts, totaling 88 batters faced. Prior to that, Kershaw had eight walks in his last 156 batters faced.
  
• Marquis won his sixth consecutive decision and in his last eight starts has a 3.28 ERA despite nearly as many walks (28) as strikeouts (31) during that span.
• Everth Cabrera stole a base in the ninth inning, his major league leading 25th swipe of the series. Cabrera stole four bases without getting caught in the three-game series and has six steals in his last four games.
• The Dodgers have one three straight games this season just once, from Apr. 5-7 against the Padres.

Up next

The Dodgers welcome the Braves to town for a super long four-game series against the runaway leaders in the National League East. Zack Greinke starts the opener on Thursday night against Tim Hudson for Atlanta, on Don Sutton bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Scott Van Slyke (6); Jedd Gyorko (7)

WP - Jason Marquis (7-2): 6⅓ IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

LP - Clayton Kershaw (5-4): 6 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, 9 strikeouts