Ryu returns from DL, pitches Dodgers to 7-1 win
By BERNIE WILSON, Associated Press
Aug 31, 2014 6:24 PM CDT
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Eric Stults throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)   (Associated Press)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Hyun-Jin Ryu came off the disabled list to pitch four-hit ball over seven innings, and Matt Kemp singled in the go-ahead run to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 7-1 Sunday and avoid a three-game sweep.

Ryu (14-6) struck out seven and walked none while allowing one run in his first start since a loss at Atlanta on Aug. 13, when he hurt his right hip. Ryu improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Padres.

The seven runs were one more than the Dodgers scored in their previous three games combined. They lost by one run in extra innings in the first two games of the series.

Adrian Gonzalez had four hits. He also scored the first of the Dodgers' four runs in the eighth against three relievers.

The Padres' four-game winning streak was snapped. They had beaten the NL West leaders in extra innings the first two games of the series.

Kemp broke a 1-all tie when his single to center with one out in the fifth brought in Hanley Ramirez.

Ramirez walked against lefty Eric Stults (6-15) and advanced on Gonzalez's single to left.

The Dodgers piled it on in the eighth, when they had five hits and two walks. Juan Uribe, who also came off the DL, hit an RBI single and Darwin Barney had a two-run single. Uribe added an RBI double in the ninth.

Stults tied for the major league lead with his career-high 15th loss, which gives him 28 losses in two seasons.

The Dodgers had been 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position in the series before Scott Van Slyke hit a broken-bat single with two outs in the first to bring in Yasiel Puig.

Puig reached on a hustle double opening the game when his fly ball — made more challenging by the sun — fell between right fielder Rymer Liriano and second baseman Jedd Gyorko. Puig advanced on a passed ball and scored on Van Slyke's single to right. Liriano threw to third to get Kemp to end the inning.

San Diego tied it in the bottom half when Yasmani Grandal's double down the right-field line brought in Yangervis Solarte, who hit a leadoff double to left.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: To make room for Ryu and Uribe, reliever Carlos Frias and infielder Miguel Rojas were optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Padres: Manager Bud Black said closer Joaquin Benoit has inflammation in his pitching shoulder that needs to settle down for seven to 10 days. Kevin Quackenbush will serve as the closer.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Roberto Hernandez (2-1, 3.52 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Washington. He is 3-1 with a 1.19 ERA in four career starts vs. the Nationals.

Padres: Tyson Ross (12-12, 2.64) pitches the opener of a four-game home series against Arizona. San Diego has won six of his last eight starts.

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