Strong arms lift weight off shoulders

Dodgers shed their demons in series opener as bullpen doesn’t backfire

- JACK HARRIS

Photographs by GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times RELIEVER JACK DREYER reacts to closing out the Dodgers' 3-2 win over the Padres on Friday that represented a long-awaited breakthrough for L.A.

It was “Demon Slayer Night” at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

And not just because the team was running a stadium-wide promotion for an anime television show of the same name.

By beating the San Diego Padres 3-2 in the opener of a pivotal three-game rivalry series, the Dodgers slayed some recently troublesome demons of their own.

They moved back into a tie with the Padres for first place in the National League West.

They got six strong innings from Clayton Kershaw; plus, in a refreshing change of pace, plenty of crisp, clean defense behind him.

And though a lineup that lost Max Muncy to the injured list with an oblique strain before the game was largely contained by the Padres (who had to go with a bullpen game after scheduled starter Michael King was shelved with a shoulder injury), the bullpen finally managed to protect a late, narrow lead for what felt like the first time in several weeks.

"Just a really well-played ball game," manager Dave Roberts said. "We needed it." Indeed, the Dodgers came into this weekend's rivalry series reeling in a way that once seemed impossible for this year's $400-million team.

Since July 4, they were just 12-21. What was a ninegame division lead had been transformed into a onegame deficit by the Padres, who came to Los Angeles riding high thanks to a monster trade deadline and a recent 14-3 streak.

More dark clouds arrived a few hours before first pitch, as well, when Muncy, who missed Wednesday's game with side soreness, was placed on the injured list with a Grade 1 oblique strain, sidelining him for at least the next several weeks.