Sports

Grandal's 3 HR's Lead Dodgers Past Padres, 10-6

July 8, 2016 / 11:34 PM PDT / KCAL News

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yasmani Grandal homered three times to drive in six runs, Justin Turner and Howie Kendrick added solo shots, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 10-6 on Friday night, snapping a three-game skid.

The teams combined for 28 hits and seven homers, including two by San Diego's Melvin Upton Jr.

Both starters struggled mightily before leaving early. San Diego's Andrew Cashner gave up a career-high eight runs, while Los Angeles' Scott Kazmir labored through a 31-pitch, 27-minute first inning in a game that lasted 3 hours, 45 minutes.

Grandal had the first three-homer game of his career against his former team. He singled in the eighth, giving him a career-high five hits. He took a foul ball off his mask in the sixth. Grandal had hit .182 with two homers in 18 previous games against the Padres, who traded him to the Dodgers for outfielder Matt Kemp, who went 0 for 5.

Pedro Baez (2-2) got the win in relief, allowing one hit in 2 2/3 innings.

Kazmir allowed three runs and six hits in three innings, struck out five and walked three. The left-hander had been unbeaten in his previous 10 starts, losing for the first time since May 9.

Cashner (3-7) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits, including four homers, while striking out two and walking three. The Dodgers feasted on Cashner's fastball, teeing off on it for their first eight runs.

Upton led off the fourth with his 16th homer of the season on the first pitch from Louis Coleman, leaving San Diego trailing 8-4. Upton has seven homers in his last 12 games. Coleman gave up three runs and four hits in one-plus innings.

The Dodgers extended their lead to 7-3 in the third. Grandal hit a three-run homer and Howie Kendrick followed with a solo shot, making it the second time this week and this season that the team had back-to-back homers.

The Padres cut their deficit to 4-3 in the second on Upton's two-run homer.

Los Angeles took a 4-1 lead in the first, scoring all its runs with two outs. Turner got things going with his solo homer. Adrian Gonzalez singled and scored — going wide to avoid the tag with his left hand on the plate — on Yasiel Puig's double. Grandal followed with his first home run of the game, driving in Puig.

San Diego catcher Derek Norris left the game in the fourth with a right quad contusion, the result of a first-inning collision with Chase Utley. Alexei Ramirez grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice to Utley at second and Norris ran into him, causing them both to fall down. Norris was out on runner's interference.

From Oklahoma City to starting in center field for the Dodgers was Andrew Toles. The 24-year-old outfielder had his contract purchased Friday and he made his major league debut after being out of baseball last year because of personal issues.

He doubled in the second for his first big-league hit.

Toles started for the Triple-A team Thursday night against Omaha and then caught an early flight to the West Coast. He began the season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and moved on to Double-A Tulsa before joining OKC.

"He was on the radar because he can really hit," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Regular center fielder Joc Pederson is on the DL and the team has a short bench, leading to Toles' promotion.

To make room for Toles on the active roster, the Dodgers optioned RHP Carlos Frias, who pitched four scoreless innings in the team's 6-0 loss Thursday, to Oklahoma City. To create room on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles designated INF Cole Figueroa for assignment. Also, to complete last week's trade with Atlanta for RHP Bud Norris, the Dodgers acquired RHP Alec Grosser as the player to be named later. Grosser appeared in three games for Rookie-level Danville this year.

MEANWHILE

Clayton Kershaw is due to come off the DL after the All-Star break, but he will need additional time. Roberts said Kershaw's back is improving daily, but the team won't put a timetable on him. ... Pederson is in Arizona, hasn't swung a bat yet and the team isn't sure how soon he'll return after the break.

LOOKING AHEAD

Padrres RHP Luis Perdomo (3-3, 7.93 ERA) tossed a career high-tying six innings in his previous start Monday at Arizona, giving up three runs (two earned) and nine hits. He struck out five and walked none.

Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 0.00) makes his second start of the season after coming off the DL last weekend. He remains unbeaten in five career starts with the Dodgers, going 4-0 with a 4.82 ERA. He is 6-1 with a 3.73 ERA in eight career starts against San Diego.