LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has a theory about why ace Clayton Kershaw has a mediocre win-loss record despite boasting the third-best ERA in the majors.
“It seems like the other team’s guy shows up, too, because he knows that he’s going to have to put up zeros to stay in the game, so usually you’re going to run into someone’s best effort,” Mattingly said. “If you’re pitching against Kershaw, you come to the park and better throw some zeros to keep yourself in the game.”
San Diego right-hander Jason Marquis did just that Wednesday, holding the Dodgers without a hit through 5 2/3 innings in the Padres’ 6-2 victory at Dodger Stadium.
The Padres salvaged one victory out of the three-game set by taking advantage of a struggling Kershaw.
Skip Schumaker’s sixth-inning double broke up Marquis’ no-hit bid. Marquis (7-2) wound up pitching 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball, allowing three hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Kershaw lasted just six innings and never looked sharp. He threw 120 pitches, many of which bounced in front of home plate, and he allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He fanned nine and walked three.
His record fell to 5-4 even though he has a 1.93 ERA.
“It was a battle,” Kershaw said. “I was throwing a lot of pitches. You have to give them some credit. They battled. Every at-bat was not easy. There were a couple at-bats where I gave up two-out runs and stuff like that which you never want to do.”
Yasmani Grandal hit an RBI single in the second inning, and Jedd Gyorko added a solo home run in the fourth, giving the Padres a 2-0 lead.
The Padres blew a chance for another run in the third. San Diego had runners at first and third with one out when Carlos Quentin hit a fly ball to center field. Chris Denorfia would have scored from third base by tagging up, but Everth Cabrera, who was running on the pitch, failed to get back to first base ahead of Andre Ethier’s throw.
A one-out double by Guzman in the sixth inning scored Gyorko with the Padres’ third run. Kershaw ended his night by striking out Marquis and Denorfia with runners at second and third.
“It’s always a bit uneasy in a one-run game on the road,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “We showed a lot of patience and laid off some borderline pitches.”
The Padres broke the game open with three runs in the ninth inning, with sacrifice flies from Gyorko and Grandal sandwiching an RBI single by Will Venable.
Marquis nearly lost his no-hitter when pinch hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. led off the sixth inning with a sinking liner to right field, but Kyle Blanks made a backhanded, full-extended diving catch for the out.
With two outs, Schumaker doubled off the center field wall, then scored on Adrian Gonzalez single past Gyorko, the second baseman.
Schumaker extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career high.
While much of the focus was on Kershaw and rookie sensation Yasiel Puig, who debuted Monday, Marquis tried to quietly go about his business.
Though he left the game after giving up a solo home run to Scott Van Slyke with one out in the seventh inning, Marquis improved to 8-4 in his career against the Dodgers. His last loss against them came on July 24, 2011.
Marquis has now won six consecutive decisions, and he hasn’t lost since April 22. He gives a lot of his credit to his sinker.
“I was working real hard to find a consistent delivery and was able to do that and carry it over to the game,” he said. “When I have a good one like that, I tend to go to it over and over.”
Tim Stauffer, Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson shut down the Dodgers for the final 2 2/3 innings.
Puig, who had four hits, including two home runs, in his first two major league games, went 0-for-4 against Marquis and Thayer, hitting two ground balls and striking out twice.
NOTES: Dodgers LHP Chris Capuano said he should be ready to come off the disabled list when he’s eligible to do so on June 13. He was diagnosed with a left shoulder latissmus strain. … Los Angeles RHP Josh Beckett was diagnosed with nerve irritation that is causing numbness in his right hand. He will undergo four weeks of intensive rehab rather than opt for surgery. How he comes out of it will determine if he’ll pitch again for the Dodgers this season. … Padres 3B Chase Headley went 1-for-3 with two walks. He entered the night batting .154 (14-for-91) with two homers and seven RBIs over his previous 24 games. Manager Bud Black said Headley is trying too hard and his over-aggressiveness at the plate is causing him to swing at bad pitches. … San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso remained sidelined after being struck on the right hand by a pitch Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays.