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Jose De Leon strikes out 9, Puig and Grandal homer in win

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES --- A pair of former Oklahoma City Dodgers led the Dodgers to a 7-4 win at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Jose De Leon won his first career start and outfielder Yasiel Puig hit a three-run home run and also had a key walk in a two-run rally.  Yasmani Grandal would also hit a home run and he drove in three runs.

Rob Segedin was all set to pinch-hit for Jose De Leon when in a span of a few pitches, Yasmani Grandal was thrown out attempting to advance to second base on a ball in the dirt and then Corey Seager struck out.

Manager Dave Roberts had Grant Dayton ready in the bullpen but instead De Leon returned to the mound to pitch the sixth inning.  De Leon responded by striking out the side to finish his first career start with a flourish.

De Leon pitched six innings and struck out nine and walked none.  That was the most strikeouts with no walks in a major league debut in Los Angeles Dodger history.

That was the second most strikeouts by a Los Angeles Dodger in a major league debut behind Pedro Astacio and Kazuhisa Ishii, who each had ten strikeouts in their first game.

The game was scoreless until the third inning, with two out and a runner on, Yangervis Solarte drilled a two-run homer to right.

The Dodgers answered, with one out, Justin Turner walked and then Adrian Gonzalez laid down a perfect bunt towards third base and there was no one there in time to field it.  Yasiel Puig followed with his eighth home run to make it 3-2 Dodgers.

De Leon contributed to the Padres rally in the fifth.  with one out and a runner on second, De Leon made a poor throw after he fielded Travis Jankowski's bunt, the throw hit the runner and allowed Alexi Amarista to tie the game.

Jankowski eventually scored on Solarte's sacrifice fly to give the Padres the lead.

But then again, the Dodgers came back in the bottom of the inning.  Turner walked with one out,  Kevin Quackenbush came in to pitch to the Puig.

The move did not work as Puig walked.  Then back-to-back singles by Chase Utley and the pinch-hitting Yasmani Grandal made it 5-4.

Grandal added two insurance runs with his 23rd home run of the season.

Grant Dayton, Joe Blanton and Kenley Jansen each pitched a scoreless inning to finish up the game.  Jansen recorded his 41st save of the season.

Up next

The Dodgers will start a three-game series on Monday as they host the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Zack Greinke will be paired against Kenta Maeda in the first game scheduled to start late Monday afternoon.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: Yangervis Solarte (15), Yasiel Puig (8), Yasmani Grandal (23)

WP: Jose De Leon (1-0) - 6 IP, 4 runs 6 hits, 9 strikeouts

LP: Kevin Quackenbush (7-5) - 0 IP, 1 run, 2 hits, 1 walk

Save:  Kenley Jansen (41) - 1 IP, 1 strikeout