San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano worked 5 1/3 effective innings
on Thursday as the Los Angeles Dodgers remained in the thick of the wild card
chase with an 8-4 victory over the San Diego Padres in the finale of a three-
game series at Petco Park.
Capuano (12-11) gave up one run on five hits and four walks with two
strikeouts to win for the first time since August 12. Brandon League closed it
out with a scoreless ninth inning.
Luis Cruz went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and A.J. Ellis drove in two runs for
the Dodgers, who moved to within three games of idle St. Louis for the second
and final National League wild card spot.
Casey Kelly (2-3) was knocked around for five runs on six hits with six
strikeouts and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in defeat for San Diego, which has
lost four of its last six games.
Mark Kotsay smoked a pinch-hit, two-run double, while Carlos Quentin and Will
Venable each had an RBI in a losing cause. Yonder Alonso had three hits and
scored a run.
After stranding runners on base in each of their first three at-bats, the
Dodgers finally broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning.
Adrian Gonzalez got things started with a base hit and moved into scoring
position three batters later on a single by Cruz. Gonzalez crossed the plate
with the first run of the game on a single into left field by Ellis.
Los Angeles broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning. Matt Kemp
got the rally started with a two-out double to deep center field and Gonzalez
was intentionally walked. Hanley Ramirez was hit by a pitch to load the bases
and Shane Victorino was credited with an RBI after getting plunked, which
ended the night for Kelly.
Cruz followed and drove in a pair with a base hit up the middle before Ellis
capped the inning with an RBI single to left field for the 5-0 advantage.
An RBI base knock by Gonzalez in the sixth made it a 6-0 game.
San Diego finally got on the board in the home portion of the inning. Chase
Headley walked and Yasmani Grandal singled. Everth Cabrera beat out an infield
hit later in the frame to load the bases with two down.
Jamey Wright was called in from the LA bullpen, but plunked Quentin, forcing
in Headley for a 6-1 contest.
Elian Herrera ripped a pinch-hit single to begin the Los Angeles eighth and
came around to score later in the inning when Kemp reached base courtesy of an
error by Alexi Amarista.
The Padres got three runs back in the home half of the eighth to cut the
deficit to 7-4. Alonso doubled with one out and scored when Kotsay ripped a
pinch-hit, two-run double to deep center. Venable drove in Kotsay with a
single up the middle.
Victorino scored from third on a wild pitch in the ninth to account for the
final margin.
Game Notes
Despite the loss, the Padres are now 41-37 at home this season. They clinched
a winning record at Petco Park for the seventh time in nine seasons... Padres
second baseman Logan Forsythe was scratched due to right knee soreness ... San
Diego finished 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 on
base.
The Sports Network