LOS ANGELES, May 14 (UPI) -- Clayton Kershaw struck out 11 over seven innings Friday and the Los Angeles Dodgers survived a shaky ninth to down Arizona 4-3.
The Diamondbacks lost their fifth in a row, coming up a run short in a ninth-inning comeback bid against closer Vicente Padilla.
Rod Barajas hit a solo homer for the Dodgers, who opened a four-run lead through seven innings.
Kershaw (5-3) gave up three hits, walked two and left the game with a comfortable lead.
Arizona, however, scored a run in the eighth off Matt Guerrier on Xavier Nady's two-out RBI single and the Diamondbacks then made things uncomfortable for Padilla in the ninth.
Padilla walked Justin Upton to open the inning and Kelly Johnson reached on a single. Both runners moved up on a ground out and pinch-hitter Miguel Montero singled in Upton and Johnson to bring the Diamondbacks within one.
Russell Branyan struck out but Chris Young drew a walk that finally forced Padilla out of the game in favor of Kenley Jansen. Jansen proceeded to strike out Melvin Mora on four pitches to earn his first save of the year in 14 appearances.
The loss went to Joe Saunders (0-5), who allowed three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
