De Leon notches 9 Ks in MLB debut; Dodgers beat Padres 7-4
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jose De Leon struck out nine while winning his major league debut, pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal drove in three runs, including a go-ahead single in the fifth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the San Diego Padres 7-4 on Sunday.
The NL West leaders took two of three from the last-place Padres, increasing their lead to three games over the Giants, who lost to the Cubs 3-2 in 13 innings.
De Leon became the 15th different starting pitcher -- and seventh in seven days -- used by Los Angeles this season. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican, recalled a day earlier from Triple-A Oklahoma City, recorded the second-most strikeouts by a Dodgers pitcher in his major league debut.
De Leon (1-0) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings and didn't issue a walk. The right-hander struck out the side in the sixth.
Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to earn his 42nd save in 48 chances.
Kevin Quackenbush (7-5) took the loss in relief, giving up one run and two hits. He walked one.
Yasiel Puig hit a three-run homer in the third that put the Dodgers ahead 3-2 in his second start since being recalled last week after a month-long demotion to the minors.
Grandal hit a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh, scoring Puig, who walked, and extending the Dodgers' lead to 7-4.
Chase Utley's RBI single tied the game 4-all in the fifth. Grandal followed with a single past diving first baseman Wil Myers that scored Justin Turner, who drew a leadoff walk, for a 5-4 lead.
The Padres scored the tying and go-ahead runs in the fifth. Travis Jankowski reached on a bunt single to the pitcher and Alexi Amarista scored on the throwing error by De Leon. Jankowski scored on Yangervis Solarte's sacrifice fly to put San Diego ahead 4-3.
Solarte hit a two-run homer with two outs in the third.
San Diego starter Christian Friedrich allowed four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings of his first start since Aug. 23. He struck out four and walked three. The left-hander had pitched in relief last week after losing eight straight as a starter.
IT'S A WRAP
The Dodgers clinched the season series with the Padres for the sixth straight time. They lead 10-6 with three games left and are 6-4 in Los Angeles.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: INF Alexei Ramirez was released Sunday after being told he wasn't going to be the team's everyday shortstop anymore. The 34-year-old veteran hit .240 with five homers and 41 RBIs in 128 games.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw will start Friday at Miami after spending more than two months on the disabled list with a herniated disk. He won't have a specific pitch count, but will be monitored. ... LHP Brett Anderson was bothered by a blister in a rehab outing at Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday and will be reassessed.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Edwin Jackson (3-5, 6.26 ERA) opens a three-game home series against Boston. He's coming off a loss in his last start at Atlanta, where he gave up five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings and walked three in a 7-3 defeat.
Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (13-8, 3.38) is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts against Arizona this season. He has held the D'backs to a .259 average and struck out 20 while walking three.
