PHOENIX, Sept. 27 (UPI) — Matt Kemp’s three-run homer in the first inning proved to be decisive Monday in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-2 win over Arizona.

Justin Sellers added an RBI single for Dodgers, who claimed a win in the opener of a season-ending, three-game series against the National League West-champion Diamondbacks.

Dana Eveland (3-2) tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, issuing no walks and striking out five, while Javy Guerra racked up his 21st save in the ninth for the Dodgers.

Daniel Hudson (16-12) was touched for four runs on five hits over seven innings for Arizona.

The 2009 overall No. 1 draft pick again displayed the blurry fastball and the fooled-again changeup that wowed the baseball world last year during his rookie season. Those magical days of “Strasmas” came to an abrupt end when his elbow popped on Aug. 21 in Philadelphia, and his long road back began when he had the now-familiar, career-saving ligament replacement surgery last Sept. 3.

The Dodgers managed just a leadoff double by Dee Gordon in the first and a single in the fourth by Juan Rivera off Strasburg.

After Strasburg left with a 3-0 lead, Andre Ethier had four RBIs on a two-run single in the sixth that tied the score at 3 and a two-run double in the ninth. Rod Barajas gave Los Angeles a 5-3 lead in the eighth on a two-run double off Henry Rodriguez (3-3).

Strasburg departed after throwing 56 pitches — 40 for strikes.

“A sigh of relief when you get a guy who’s cruising in the game out because of a pitch count,” Ethier said.

None of the Dodgers had faced the 23-year-old and most were suitably impressed.

“He definitely lives up to the hype,” Ethier said.

Strasburg struck out four — Ethier fanned twice against him.

Kelly Jansen (2-1), the Dodgers fourth pitcher, worked a scoreless seventh for the win.

Los Angeles pitchers set a season high by striking out 17 Nationals — nine by starter Ted Lilly — who allowed three runs — two earned — in five innings.

Lilly had the longest at-bat against Strasburg — six pitches — before grounding out to second against him in the sixth.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was impressed with Strasburg, but not his team’s approach.

“I thought we were a little anxious — a little jacked up,” Mattingly said. “This kid’s got a good arm, but you see good arms all the time.”

The Dodgers have won seven of nine. They’re three games under .500 — the closest they’ve been to the break even-point since May 14.

“It took us a little bit long to do it,” Ethier said.

Lilly was attempting to win his 10th game for the ninth consecutive season. He also left after five innings, and his teammates bailed him out.

The 35-year-old has been pitching in the majors since 1999 — when Strasburg was 11. Even though he’s watched countless excellent pitchers work, he didn’t enjoy what he saw of Strasburg.

“Not really — because we didn’t score any runs off him,” Lilly said. “I’d rather watch him when we’re banging a bunch of balls against the wall. That would be something I’d prefer.”

With a sly smile, Lilly had a recommendation for Washington.

“He’s someone that the Nationals should probably trade to us if they knew what was best for us. Maybe things will work for him over here,” Lilly said.

NOTES: The game was delayed by rain for 31 minutes in the seventh inning. … Gordon tied a season-high with three hits. … Lilly tied a season-high with nine strikeouts. … Strasburg was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game. … The Dodgers recalled C Tim Federowicz, RHP John Ely and INF-OF Jerry Sands from Triple-A Albuquerque. … Los Angeles 3B Casey Blake underwent season-ending surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his neck. … RHP Chien-Ming Wang (2-3) will start for Washington on Wednesday against LHP Dana Eveland (1-0). Eveland is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two games against Washington.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LOS ANGELES — Matt Kemp got his career-high 102nd RBI, Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game series sweep.

It was the eighth win in nine games for the Dodgers, who went 17-11 in August to move into third place in the NL West. The Padres lost their season-high seventh in a row and finished 1-7 on their eight-game trip.

Los Angeles starter Ted Lilly (9-13) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had a season-high four walks in his ninth career win over the Padres — his most against a single opponent.

Javy Guerra pitched the ninth to earn his 13th save in 14 chances.

Wade LeBlanc (2-4) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings for San Diego.

Kemp’s single to left in the first inning gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. He failed to score a run, ending his streak at seven games.

LeBlanc tied it with a two-out RBI single in the second that was preceded by consecutive walks by Lilly.

The Dodgers took the lead for good when Barajas hit a 3-1 pitch off the left-field foul pole in the bottom of the second. Barajas’ 15th homer drove in James Loney, who was aboard on a leadoff walk.

Loney’s RBI single into the left-field corner extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1 in the fourth.

The Padres’ other run came on Alberto Gonzalez’s RBI double in the sixth.

NOTES: Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, who came in hitting .533 on the homestand, singled as a pinch hitter in the eighth. … The Dodgers earned their fourth series sweep of the season and their second over the Padres. … San Diego selected the contract of RHP Brad Brach from Triple-A Tucson and he made his major league debut in the seventh. He yielded two singles in 1 1-3 innings, striking out three of the seven batters he faced, including Kemp for his first big league K. … The Padres claimed OF Jeremy Hermida off outright waivers from Cincinnati and designated C Kyle Phillips for assignment. Hermida is set to join the team in San Diego on Friday. … The Padres optioned OF Blake Tekotte to Double-A San Antonio and transferred RHP Dustin Moseley from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Moseley had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Aug. 3. … The Dodgers placed RHP Matt Guerrier on paternity leave and recalled RHP Josh Lindblom from Double-A Chattanooga. Lindblom replaced Lilly and threw 16 pitches in the sixth inning.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Hiroki Kuroda pitched seven shutout innings and Matt Kemp had two hits and drove in the only run and the Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the San Diego Padres 1-0 on Tuesday.

Kuroda (7-13) snapped a four-game losing streak, allowing four hits while striking out eight and walking two. It was his second strong outing in San Diego this season, as he also shut out the Padres in April.

Kemp had two hits and drove in the only run, adding to his NL best RBI total (84) as the Dodgers beat San Diego for a fifth consecutive time. Kemp also made a strong defensive play in the ninth, snaring a fly ball off the bat of Aaron Cunningham.

Mat Latos (5-11) went seven solid innings while yielding one run, but was pulled for a pinch hitter in the seventh.

Mike MacDougal allowed the tying run to reach third base in the eighth after giving up two singles, but recovered to retire the next two batters and preserve the lead.

Javy Guerra converted his ninth save in as many chances with a perfect ninth.

Latos allowed Dee Gordon to reach on a bunt single in the fourth, and Gordon scored on Kemp’s first single.

Latos gave up six hits while striking out six, including four of the first nine batters in the game, and did not issue a walk.

The shutout is the Dodgers’ 13th of the season, while San Diego has been held scoreless 16 times this year, including nine times at Petco Park.

Blake Tekotte was the lone bright spot for the San Diego offense, collecting three hits in his first game since being recalled from Double-A San Antonio. Tekotte also collected two steals in his second stint in San Diego.

Notes: Will Venable pinch hit in the seventh and remained in the game in left field after not playing since Friday due to back spasms. … The Dodgers have not announced who will fill the fifth spot in their starting rotation after Rubby De La Rosa went on the DL on Monday and will undergo season-ending elbow surgery. .. Andre Ethier did not play in the game strictly as a day off, according to manager Don Mattingly.

Read More: Troy Tulowitzki (SS – COL), Aaron Cook (P – COL), Ty Wigginton (3B – COL), Hiroki Kuroda (P – LOS), Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers

It was an odd night for the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies scored in the odd-numbered innings to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1.

Troy Tulowitzki put the Rockies on the board first with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Ty Wigginton atoned for his error on Tuesday with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Tulowitzki came back in the ninth inning with another RBI single to center field.

Dodgers starts Hiroki Kuroda (6-13, 3.11 ERA) gave up the first run while Blake Hawksworth and Mike MacDougal while each gave up a run.

Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.05 ERA) looked like vintage 2008 Cook. He had his sinker working all night and kept the Dodgers off the board for seven innings. Rex Brothers and Huston Street finished things off, though the latter did allow a solo home run to Rod Barajas in the bottom of the ninth inning. Street now has 27 saves.

The Rockies (49-56, 23-30 away) are off on Thursday before heading to San Diego for a series with the Padres on Friday.

Check out Purple Row for more on the Rockies. True Blue LA and SB Nation Los Angeles have you covered on the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw outpitched Jhoulys Chacin with 6 2-3 gritty innings to win his fourth straight start, Matt Kemp drove in two runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth consecutive victory. Kershaw (12-4) threw a career-high 125 pitches in his 105th big league start, allowing two runs and eight hits and striking out six. The 23-year-old left-hander, who appeared in his first All-Star game two weeks earlier, is 7-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last 10 starts at Dodger Stadium, where he hasn’t lost since St. Louis beat him 9-2 on April 16. Kershaw increased his major league-leading strikeout total to 173, four more than Detroit’s Justin Verlander, who fanned seven against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night. Matt Guerrier retired all four batters he faced and Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his second save in three attempts. Regular closer Javy Guerra got the night off after posting a victory and two saves in the previous three games. Chacin (8-8) was charged with three runs — one earned — and three hits in six innings. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 4.87 ERA in seven starts since winning his previous three outings, including a 6-5 decision over the Dodgers in which he pitched eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball before the bullpen gave up five runs in the ninth. Kershaw worked with runners on base in every inning he pitched. The Rockies got to him in the fifth when Todd Helton drove in Dexter Fowler with Colorado’s third straight two-out single. It ended a string of 27 consecutive innings in which Kershaw did not allow an earned run. Kershaw was lifted after Helton’s seventh-inning groundout drove in the Rockies’ second run. Troy Tulowitzki led off the Rockies’ fourth with a ground-rule double over Kemp’s head. But Ty Wigginton struck out, and Kershaw retired Mark Ellis and Ryan Spilborghs on grounders to shortstop. The first two batters Kershaw faced broke their bats hitting ground balls. Jonathan Herrera reached safely when Juan Rivera dropped the throw from shortstop Rafael Furcal and Helton walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but they had to stay put on Tulowitzki’s groundout to first base, and were stranded when Wigginton struck out. Wigginton has only four RBIs in 58 at-bats over his last 20 games, and is batting just .173 with runners in scoring position this season (14 for 81). Wigginton’s evening got worse when he camped under Furcal’s lazy flyball leading off the fourth and dropped it trying to make a one-handed catch. Los Angeles capitalized with the first three runs of the game, two of which were unearned. Kemp doubled home two, then got to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Juan Rivera. Notes: Kershaw’s overall ERA is 2.72. The only other time he threw at least 120 pitches was April 21 against Atlanta, when he made 122 over 8 2-3 innings in a game the Dodgers won 5-3 in 12. … Chacin is 3-2 with a 0.79 ERA in his last five starts against the Dodgers, including three scoreless outings in which he went eight innings twice and seven the other time. … The Rockies placed five-time All-Star Jason Giambi on the 15-day DL Tuesday, after he strained his left quad running to first base as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning Monday. … Dodgers 3B Juan Uribe, 0 for 15 lifetime against Chacin with six strikeouts, missed his third straight game due to a lower abdominal strain. … Spilborghs was 0 for 3 against Kershaw, and is 6 for 36 lifetime against him.