No luck for Ross in Padres’ 2-1 loss to Dodgers

BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyson Ross owns a 2.67 ERA against the Dodgers this season, and has four losses to show for it.

The latest was a 2-1 defeat on Thursday night after the right-hander dueled two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw through eight innings. Ross even spoiled Kershaw’s no-hit bid with a two-out single in the sixth.

“You want to be out there battling the other guy and putting up zeroes and pitching deep into games,” Ross said. “Kershaw’s having an MVP-type year, and he was just a little better.”

Ross (11-12) retired 12 straight after giving up his second hit in the third. He allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings, struck out eight and walked two.

“Tyson has crossed that bridge now where he feels as though he can go out there every time and, no matter who the opposing pitcher is or what kind of lineup it is, he can win a ballgame and shut the other team down,” Padres manager Bud Black said.

Ross has received a combined three runs of support in the four losses to the Dodgers despite having a 2.67 ERA against them.

“He’s been pitching lights-out,” Kershaw said. “He doesn’t give much. His slider-fastball combination is pretty unbelievable.”

Kershaw (15-3) allowed one run and three hits in eight innings, striking out 10 and walking two. He tied Johnny Cueto, Wily Peralta and Adam Wainwright for the major league lead in victories. The left-hander was originally scheduled to start Friday, but he was moved up to give Zack Greinke extra rest for his sore elbow.

Pitching on regular rest after Monday’s day off, Kershaw bounced back from losing his previous start against Milwaukee after winning his 11 previous decisions. He retired 12 in a row before giving up his first hit to Ross.

Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to earn his 36th save.

Carl Crawford reached on an infield single to the mound leading off the eighth and Turner followed with his fourth homer into the left-field pavilion, putting the Dodgers ahead 2-1.

Turner was 2 for 3 and is batting .362 with eight RBIs and eight runs scored in 17 games this month.

The Padres led 1-0 on Rene Rivera’s RBI single in the seventh.

Los Angeles took two out of three against San Diego, and has won its last eight series against NL West opponents. Kershaw beat the Padres for the fourth consecutive time and improved to 11-6 against them in his career.

MAYBIN STARTS

Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin made his first start since returning from a 25-game suspension for testing positive for an amphetamine. He was hitless in three at-bats with one strikeout. He entered Wednesday’s game as a defensive replacement in the ninth after coming off the restricted list.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Closer Joaquin Benoit had been bothered by shoulder problems, but he will avoid a DL stint. Manager Bud Black said Benoit could return Friday if he’s feeling as good as he was on Thursday; if not, he will be ready on Saturday.

Dodgers: Manager Don Mattingly said he believes Greinke’s elbow isn’t going to be a long-term problem. Infielder Juan Uribe, on the DL with a right hamstring strain, has resumed baseball activities. Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, on the DL with a right oblique strain, is doing well.

ON DECK

Padres: Odrisamer Despaigne (11-11, 2.70 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series at Arizona. He made seven minor league starts after signing with the team on May 2. Despaigne is the second Cuban-born pitcher to appear in a game for the Padres and the first to make a start.

Dodgers: Struggling Dan Haren (10-10, 4.59) takes the mound in the series opener against the Mets. Last weekend, he allowed six runs on five hits in three innings in a 7-2 loss to Milwaukee.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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