Padres handcuffed by Dodgers’ Kuroda in 3-1 loss, dropping them into 2nd in NL West

Padres drop back into 2nd with 3-1 loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight superb innings, Andre Ethier had two run-scoring hits and the Los Angeles Dodgers sent the San Diego Padres back into second place in the NL West with a 3-1 victory Thursday night.

The Padres fell a half-game behind the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Chicago Cubs 13-0 at Wrigley Field.

Kuroda (11-13) allowed one run and five hits, struck out four and walked one. He retired 14 of his last 15 batters. The right-hander, who has made 65 starts without a complete game since his one-hitter against Atlanta on July 7, 2008, threw 98 pitches before Hong-Chih Kuo came on to strike out the side in the ninth and get his 10th save in 11 chances.