Dodgers win home run derby with Padres, 11-8

The Dodgers turned on the power, hitting four home runs on their way to an 11-8 win over the Padres on Saturday night at Petco Park.

The long balls from Los Angeles came, in order, from Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick and Juan Uribe. The home runs tie a Dodgers record in San Diego, done five other times, the last on July 5, 2009.

They weren't alone in the power show, as the Padres hit three home runs of their own against Brandon McCarthy before the Dodgers starter left in the sixth inning with right elbow tightness.

But the Dodgers were able to withstand the Padres' offensive barrage, thanks in part to at least one runner on base for each of the four home runs. Three were two-run shots, while Gonzalez hit a three-run home run in the second.

Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with a double in addition to his home run, and scored three runs as well. He is 13-for-22 (.591) with six home runs and three doubles in just five games against the Padres this season. The Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season against the Padres is eight, held jointly by Jimmy Wynn (1974) and Darryl Strawberry (1991).

It continued the blazing hot start to the season for Gonzalez, who is hitting .403/.459/.851 with 18 RBI through 17 games. In Dodgers franchise history, the only player with more doubles through 17 games than the nine by Gonzalez is Jackie Robinson, with 10 in 1950. Only four Dodgers have hit more home runs through 17 games than the seven by Gonzalez — Matt Kemp (2012) with nine; Wally Moon (1961), Ron Cey (1977) and Rick Monday (1978) with eight.

Ethier continued his resurgence as well, taking advantage of his playing time opportunity with three more hits and a walk, with a double and three RBI in addition to two runs scored.

His 22 home runs against the Padres in his career are the most by any active player in baseball.

Three of the Dodgers home runs came against Ian Kennedy, who was tagged for eight runs and couldn't last past one out in the fifth inning. Since the start of the 2013 season, Kennedy is 0-6 with a 5.64 ERA in 10 starts against the Dodgers, and his teams have lost eight of those 10 games.

McCarthy left in the sixth inning, facing three batters in the inning before departing with the elbow injury, and allowed six runs on the night. But he remains undefeated thanks to stellar run support — 31 runs in four starts, never fewer than six scored by the Dodgers.

McCarthy has allowed nine home runs in his four starts, most in baseball. But the Dodgers have hit 11 home runs to back McCarthy, and have won all four of his starts.

Notes

Yasmani Grandal had two hits for a second straight night, including a double, plus a walk

Joc Pederson reached base four times in five trips, with a single, two walks and a hit by pitch. His on-base percentage is .462.

Alex Guerrero pinch hit in the ninth inning and drew his first career walk

Up next

The Dodgers go for the road sweep on Sunday, with Scott Baker getting the call. The Padres will counter with Brandon Morrow in the series finale, a 1:10 p.m. PT start.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Andre Ethier (2), Adrian Gonzalez (7), Howie Kendrick (3), Juan Uribe (1); Wil Myers (3), Justin Upton 2 (5)

WP - Brandon McCarthy (3-0): 5+ IP, 6 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

LP - Ian Kennedy (0-1): 4⅓ IP, 8 hits, 8 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts