Ethier Hits Grand Slam To Help Dodgers Beat Padres 8-5
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Andre Ethier's grand slam capped an eight-run second inning that included six walks by Tim Stauffer -- three with the bases-loaded -- to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 8-5 Tuesday night.
The Dodgers have won seven of their last eight, while the last-place Padres have dropped six in a row and lost six consecutive at Dodger Stadium.
Hiroki Kuroda (11-14) allowed seven hits and four runs in six innings, struck out three and walked two to win his career-high fourth in a row. He tied his career high for wins set last season. The right-hander is 3-0 against the Padres this season.
Javy Guerra pitched the ninth to earn his 12th save in 13 chances.
Stauffer (8-11) imploded in his shortest outing of the season. The right-hander gave up one hit and seven runs in just 1 2-3 innings, walked a career-high seven and struck out two.
It was the most walks in an inning since Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera had six in the first inning against Boston on April 7, 2006, according to Stats LLC. The Red Sox won 14-8.
Stauffer's walks set a club record for the most in an inning, eclipsing the five by Juan Eichelberger in the second inning against St. Louis on Aug. 29, 1981.
There were 16 walks issued in the game, with the Dodgers having 12, their most since having 14 against Atlanta on April 21, 1999.
Ethier singled to lead off the outburst before Stauffer walked Aaron Miles. He struck out A.J. Ellis, then walked Jamey Carroll to load the bases for the first time. Kuroda walked to force in the Dodgers' first run.
Justin Sellers' sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Stauffer allowed consecutive walks to James Loney and Matt Kemp, forcing in the third run. Juan Rivera walked to force in another run before Stauffer was pulled.
Anthony Bass relieved Stauffer and gave up a grand slam to Ethier on his first pitch, extending the lead to 8-0 -- a season-high runs in one inning for the Dodgers.
Kuroda stumbled in the sixth, when the Padres scored four runs, including consecutive homers by Kyle Blanks, who had a three-run shot, and former Dodger Orlando Hudson. The Padres cut the margin to 8-5 in the seventh on Jesus Guzman's RBI double off Matt Guerrier.
Notes: The last time the Dodgers scored eight runs in an inning was May 25, 2009, against Colorado in the seventh. ... Kemp scored a run for the seventh consecutive game, the longest such streak on the Dodgers this season. ... The Padres recalled OF Blake Tekotte from Double-A San Antonio and optioned RHP Erik Hamren to Triple-A Tucson. ... Eight of Ethier's 11 homers have been at Chavez Ravine. ... Led by Hall of Famer Vin Scully, all eight of the Dodgers broadcasters will return in 2012. The team said Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrin, Rick Monday, Fernando Valenzuela, Pepe Yniguez, Charley Steiner, Steve Lyons and Eric Collins will be back. The Dodgers recently surveyed season ticket holders about their broadcasters, asking fans to rate each of them on things like accuracy of calls, knowledge of baseball, and knowledge of the franchise. The results weren't announced.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
