The rest of the league can't hit Clayton Kershaw, but somehow the lowly Padres have managed to get to the left-hander twice this season.
It is not like he has had poor outings, but against the San Diego ball club he has lacked the lights-out performances he puts on against other teams.
On Wednesday, Kershaw threw six innings on 120 pitches, allowing seven hits, three walks and two earned runs in the 6-2 loss to the Padres. It was not all bad though, as he struck out nine batters.
In the second inning, Jesus Guzman singled and advanced to second base on a throwing error from Hanley Ramirez. Yasmani Grandal then hit an RBI single to right field.
Kershaw gave up his fifth home run of the year in the fourth to Jedd Gyorko. The third run he allowed came in the sixth inning after he walked Gyorko, who scored on a Jesus Guzman double.
In two starts against San Diego this season, Kershaw has lasted 11.1 innings, allowing four home runs, 14 hits, and seven walks. Four of his five home runs allowed this season were to the Padres.
Don Mattingly even mentioned that the Padres tend to "rough up" Kershaw, but he is not sure why they get to him.
His record was 5-3 going into Wednesday, but he has received just 2.68 runs per game. That is fourth-worst in the majors and explains why Kershaw has a loss or no-decision in every outing that he has allowed more two or more runs.
In his five wins this season Kershaw has allowed one run in 41.2 innings combined.
That being said, the Dodgers bats were silent once again on Wednesday with Kershaw on the mound. They were no hit through all six innings he pitched.
Padres starter, Jason Marquis, had a perfect game going before walking Andre Ethier in the fifth.
Skip Schumaker broke up his no-hitter in the sixth with a double, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Adrian Gonzalez hit a smoking line drive off the glove of Padres second baseman, Jedd Gyorko, scoring Schumaker.
In the seventh, Scott Van Slyke hit a solo home run to left field, scoring the Dodgers second and final run of the night. It was his sixth homer of the season, he has done it on just 13 hits, yet has only 11 RBIs.
Following the explosion of Puig Mania on Monday and Tuesday, Yasiel Puig went 0-4 with two strikeouts, reminding fans that he is still a rookie and will not hit two home runs every night.
Puig needs to remember that too. He was visually distraught after both strikeouts and was shown in the dugout with his head in his hands after his final at bat.
The Dodgers lost 6-2, but took two of three from the Padres, and are 9-4 in their last 13 games at home.
The Atlanta Braves come to LA on Thursday for a four-game series against the Dodgers. In May the Dodgers were swept by the Braves in Atlanta, and need to at least split in order to stay within eight games of the NL West division leader, Arizona.
