Dodgers stun Padres

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

The Los Angeles Dodgers were still searching for their first hit of the game with two outs in the ninth inning. Nine pitches later, they had an improbable victory.

Juan Uribe doubled to left for Los Angeles’ first hit and Dioner Navarro drove him in with a single to center, sending the Dodgers to a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

“Everybody wants to get that hit and be the guy,” Navarro said. “We just kept telling ourselves to be patient and do the best we can. I knew there was a base open and they were going to pitch around me, which they did. But then he threw a fastball in there. I was looking for a pitch up in the strike zone and I put some good wood on it.”

Uribe’s hit came on a 1-2 pitch and Navarro delivered on a 3-1 offering from Luke Gregerson (2-2), who struck out Matt Kemp to begin the inning, then got James Loney to ground out.

“I’ve seen some crazy things in my nine years in the big leagues,” Padres second baseman Orlando Hudson said, “but that’s the way the game goes. So what are you going to do? You just keep playing.”

Rubby De La Rosa and three relievers combined on a one-hitter that gave the Dodgers three consecutive shutout victories for the first time since July 1991. Los Angeles has won nine of its last 19 games, and seven of those victories have been shutouts — including the last five.

Uribe was down to his last strike when he drove the pitch from Gregerson over the head of left fielder Chris Denorfia. The Padres have never had a no-hitter in their 43-year history.

“To tell the truth, I don’t think anyone in the bullpen knew there was a no-hitter going,” Gregerson said. “The starter was out of the game, so what did it matter at that point? It’s only fun if the starter goes nine innings and throws a no-hitter and your guys score some runs. But a loss is a loss at the end of the day.”