LOS ANGELES – Matt Kemp hit a three-run home run off Chris Hatcher in the eighth inning and the San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 on Friday night for the team's fifth consecutive loss.
Kemp scored the Padres first run against the Dodgers in 2016 when Melvin Upton Jr. singled up the middle in the fourth inning. The run ended San Diego's 31.2 scoreless inning streak against L.A. to start the season.
Kemp continued to do damage against his former team, as he broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the eighth inning with a three-run blast into the Dodgers' bullpen.
"I think anybody would get extra satisfaction playing against their old team," Kemp said. "Honestly, I just felt like we needed that win as a team. That's the most important thing."
The Padres would tack on another run off Dodgers' closer Kenley Jansen in the top of the ninth. It was the first run allowed by Jansen all season.
Yasmani Grandal provided the Dodgers only offense on the night with a solo homer in the sixth inning.
Alex Wood pitched well for the Dodgers, but did not factor in the decision allowing just one run on five hits in seven innings.
"Me and Honey [Rick Honeycutt] found something in my delivery that might be an easy fix to get my timing right," Wood said of why he believed he pitched well on Friday night. "Hopefully I can continue to build on it."
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San Diego starter, Cesar Vargas, made just the second start of his career and was dominant on the mound, throwing 5 and 1/3 innings of shutout ball striking out a season-high six batters.
Players of the Game:
Matt Kemp: 3-run home run and two runs scored.
Yasmani Grandal: Solo home run in the 6th.
Three Takeaways:
1. Five Hole: The Dodgers dropped their fifth game in a row, their longest losing streak since August 18-23, 2015, and longest at home since May of 2013.
#Dodgers offensive numbers during 5 game losing streak
29 for 159 (.182)
2 for 33 with RISP (.061)
42 strikeouts — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 30, 2016
2. San Diego Snap: The Padres snapped their own five-game losing streak on Friday and more importantly, a nine-game losing streak against the Dodgers dating back to last season.
Hoping the Padres can snap their 5 game losing string and help the Dodgers get theirs. — David Skotte (@DavidSkotte) April 30, 2016
3. Purple Rain: The Dodgers hosted a Friday night Fireworks special dedicated to the late singer, Prince. DJ Severe created an eight-minute long Prince tribute track that played with the fireworks and had fans in tears as the purple fireworks rained down upon Dodger Stadium as the legendary track filled their eardrums.
#PurpleRain #DodgersStyle pic.twitter.com/qJHbhluPb1 — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 30, 2016
Up Next:
Padres (8-15): Colin Rea makes his second start of the season against the Dodgers when he takes the mound for San Diego on Saturday.
Dodgers (12-12): Rookie Ross Stripling will head to the mound in search of his first career win as first pitch is scheduled for 6:10PM.
