Padres get 10 hits in 2-1 loss to Dodgers
Andrew Cashner allowed one run in seven innings, a solid performance that wasn't enough to get the San Diego Padres a win.
They lost 2-1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night despite 10 hits, one fewer than they produced in a 9-2 defeat in the series opener.
''It was a battle on both sides,'' Cashner said. ''If a couple of ground balls go a different way, it's a different game. But I just told myself, `It's a playoff atmosphere here, and just keep making pitches. Don't get out of your game.'''
Nick Vincent (3-2) took the loss, allowing two hits on nine pitches in the eighth after relieving Cashner.
Cashner appreciated manager Bud Black letting him finish the seventh in front of a sellout crowd of 53,121.
''It was the biggest part of the game, and it was awesome that he showed all the confidence in me to keep going,'' he said.
Cashner threw 119 pitches.
''I still thought he had a lot of bullets left,'' Black said. ''We've talked about Cash's development and where he is as a pitcher, and I think that was a learning point for Cash - tough game, on the road, good team, the crowd, the whole thing. I'm not sure Cash has been in that situation before.''
Ronny Cedeno hit his first homer for San Diego with two outs in the fourth.
Cashner gave up 10 hits while striking out seven and walking three. The Padres have lost seven of nine.
''We're bunching the hits together, but we just haven't been able to drive the guys in with guys in scoring position,'' Jedd Gyorko said. ''Hopefully the tide will turn pretty soon. We have good hitters in the lineup who can drive in runs. We've just got to come through.''
Adrian Gonzalez hit a tying single in the seventh inning and pinch-hitter Mark Ellis singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth for the Dodgers, who announced as the game ended that they had acquired third baseman Michael Young from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league lefty Rob Rasmussen.
The Dodgers ended August with a 23-6 record, their most wins in a month since moving to Los Angeles in 1958. The club record of 25 was set in July 1947 and equaled in August 1953, when the team played in Brooklyn.
Brian Wilson (1-0) came on in relief to earn the victory - his first since joining the Dodgers last week. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 25 chances.
Dodgers starter Chris Capuano allowed one run and eight hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked one.
Skip Schumaker led off the eighth with a double and was sacrificed to third by Tim Federowicz. Schumaker scored on Ellis' single to center, one of the Dodgers' 13 hits, equaling their amount on Friday.
The Dodgers tied it at 1 on Gonzalez's RBI single with one out in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. and Carl Crawford opened the inning with singles.
''That was one of the better pitches I made. It was a sinker down and away and I was trying to get him to hit into a double play right there,'' Cashner said of Gonzalez. ''I don't know how he lifted that ball. Every guy in that lineup can do damage. You can still make pitches and get outs, but late in the game I've got to be better than I was.''
Cashner intentionally walked Andre Ethier to load the bases before Juan Uribe grounded out to end the inning.
NOTES: San Diego OF Will Venable was hitless in four at-bats, just the second time that happened in August. He batted .367 for the month. ... Gyorko went 3 for 4 with his 23rd double of the season, fourth-most by a Padres rookie second baseman in club history. ... The Padres activated OF Kyle Blanks from the 15-day DL and optioned RHP Anthony Bass to Triple-A Tucson. Blanks was 1 for 11 with a run scored and a walk in four rehab games. ... Padres 3B Chase Headley, who left Friday's game in the fifth inning with back stiffness, didn't show much improvement overnight so he didn't play.