Dodgers beat Padres 1-0 on bases-loaded walk in 9th after Peavy and Kershaw go scoreless

Dodgers beat Padres on bases-loaded walk in ninth

LOS ANGELES — Russell Martin was walked by Duaner Sanchez with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

The defending NL West champions are 8-0 at home for the first time since 1947, when the Brooklyn Dodgers won their first eight games at Ebets Field. The year before, they set a franchise record by winning their first nine games on Bedford Avenue.

Jake Peavy, who came in 13-2 lifetime against the Dodgers with a 2.39 ERA, allowed just two hits and a walk over eight innings before Sanchez (1-1) gave up a leadoff single in the ninth to Rafael Furcal. Orlando Hudson bunted into a force play, then advanced on a wild pitch to Manny Ramirez.

Sanchez walked Ramirez intentionally, then struck out James Loney before loading the bases with a walk to Matt Kemp. Martin fouled off several two-strike pitches before being walked on a 3-2 pitch.

Jonathan Broxton (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the win.

Peavy had eight strikeouts, fanning Casey Blake his first three times up. The two-time All-Star was coming off consecutive losses against San Francisco and Pittsburgh, giving up 11 earned runs over 11 innings.

Joe Torre again had his starting pitcher bat eighth in the lineup ahead of center fielder Juan Pierre, two nights after employing that same formula for the first time in 28 seasons as a big league manager. Pierre was 1-for-3 with a two-out single in the third — the Dodgers’ only hit until Hudson singled with two out in the sixth.

Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ 21-year-old left-hander, matched zeros with the 2007 NL Cy Young winner through seven innings and allowed four hits before giving way to Ronald Belisario after 99 pitches. Kershaw struck out three and walked two.

In his previous two outings, both on the road, Kershaw gave up 15 runs over nine innings of work in losses to Houston and Colorado.

The Padres got a runner as far as second base three times against Kershaw, including the fourth and fifth innings, when Scott Hairston and Kevin Kouzmanoff led off with doubles. In the eighth, Belisario (1-3) walked Brian Giles with one out and hit Hairston with a pitch. Lefty Will Ohman relieved and struck out the dangerous Adrian Gonzalez before retiring switch-hitter Chase Headley on a fielder’s choice grounder.

Kershaw’s outing was a much-needed shot in the arm for the Dodgers’ overworked bullpen, after starters Eric Stults and rookie James McDonald lasted a combined 4 1-2 innings over the previous two games.