Streak over, Kershaw pitches Dodgers past Padres 2-1

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw’s scoreless streak ended at 41 innings when he gave up a home run to Chase Headley, but the Los Angeles ace pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts to lead the Dodgers over the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Thursday night.

Kershaw won his eighth straight start and came within 18 innings of the major league record set by Dodgers right-hander Orel Hershiser, who threw 59 consecutive shutout innings in 1988.

The switch-hitting Headley homered off Kershaw (11-2) in the sixth, halting the longest scoreless streak in the majors since Brandon Webb went 42 innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007.

Kershaw’s run tied Luis Tiant for the fifth-longest in the expansion era (since 1961).

The 26-year-old lefty became the third pitcher in the last 100 years to win eight straight starts in one season while striking out at least seven batters in each one. The others were Sandy Koufax (1966) and Juan Marichal (1967).

Despite missing five weeks because of a strained muscle in his upper back that sidelined him after his opening-day victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia, Kershaw has a 1.98 ERA in 14 starts ― his best numbers before the All-Star break in his seven-year career.

Headed to his fourth All-Star game in a row, the two-time Cy Young Award winner seems a strong choice to start the Midsummer Classic on regular rest Tuesday night in Minnesota.

Kershaw earned his 14th complete game in 196 career starts, helping the defending NL West champions increase their division lead to one game over San Francisco in the opener of a four-game series that will take them into the All-Star break.

Vying for his fourth straight major league ERA title, Kershaw highlighted his astounding streak with a no-hitter June 18 against Colorado. He limited the Rockies to two hits over eight innings in the rematch last Friday at Coors Field.

If Kershaw had enough innings to qualify for the ERA race, he’d be second in the majors behind Adam Wainwright’s 1.79 mark for St. Louis.

During his scoreless streak, Kershaw allowed 17 hits, struck out 52 batters, walked six and stranded 23 runners ― four at third base.

He also retired the leadoff hitter in 36 of those innings.

The previous run against Kershaw came on an RBI double by Arizona’s Aaron Hill in the third inning of Kershaw’s 4-3 win June 13 at Dodger Stadium. His next outing was the no-hitter.

Odrisamer Despaigne (2-1) allowed two runs, seven hits and no walks over seven innings for the Padres. He struck out seven in his fourth big league start.

The 27-year-old right-hander got his first chance to face Cuban countryman Yasiel Puig in the majors and held him to one hit in four at-bats -- a line-drive double that caromed off Despaigne’s left leg and into left field in the fourth.

Scott Van Slyke hit a two-out single that drove in Puig from third. Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the go-ahead run with sacrifice fly in the sixth after Headley tied it with his seventh homer.

The Padres, who have lost five of six following a season-best, five-game winning streak, got two runners as far as second base.