Dee's Walk-off Gives Dodgers' 9th Win

Clayton Kershaw wasn't himself today, but luckily for him, Matt Kemp continued to put on a show at the plate and Dee Gordon came through in the clutch to give the Dodgers a 9-1 record to start 2012.

The Los Angeles Dodgers turned a bizarre triple play in the top of the ninth inning, then Dee Gordon singled home the winning run in the bottom half for a 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday and a three-game sweep.

The Dodgers improved to 9-1, the best mark in the major leagues and equaling their best start ever in Los Angeles.

Matt Kemp hit his fourth homer in three games as the Dodgers sent San Diego to its fourth loss in a row.

It was 4-all when the Dodgers turned their first triple play since June 13, 1998, against Colorado.

Chris Denorfia led off with a single against Javy Guerra (1-0) and Chase Headley walked. Jesus Guzman squared to bunt, but the pitch came high and tight and hit his bat as he backed away.

The ball landed in front of the plate and catcher A.J. Ellis alertly picked it up and threw to third. Guzman, startled by what happened, didn't run to first base, which made it easy for third baseman Juan Uribe to relay to shortstop Gordon at second base. In turn, he threw to James Loney to complete the triple play.

Padres manager Bud Black came out to argue with plate umpire and crew chief Dale Scott, who ejected him.

The Dodgers had the same situation in the bottom of the ninth with runners on first and second and nobody out, with Juan Uribe in a sacrifice situation against Brad Brach (0-1). Uribe successfully got the bunt down and Ellis was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. fouled out before Gordon slapped an 0-2 pitch to left field, setting off a celebration between first and second base. Gordon had struck out with the bases loaded to end the seventh.

The Dodgers gave Clayton Kershaw to a 4-1 lead. But Josh Lindblom gave up a tying two-run single to pinch-hitter Jeremy Hermida in the sixth, leaving last year's NL Cy Young winner with his third no-decision in as many starts.

The Dodgers improved to 6-0 at home with their ninth straight win against San Diego at Dodger Stadium.

San Diego tied it at 4 with three runs in the sixth. Orlando Hudson had a bases-loaded RBI single through the hole past Gordon to finish Kershaw, and Hermida hit a bases-loaded single.

Kershaw allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings, struck out three and walked three. The left-hander had allowed just one run in 10 innings of his first two starts.

Padres starter Edinson Volquez gave up four runs and six hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked five.

NOTES: Padres C Nick Hundley snapped an 0-for-21 skid with a single in the third. His drought was the longest to start a season by a Padres non-pitcher since Ozzie Smith's club record 0-for-32 stretch in 1979. ... Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully returned to the booth after missing five days with a bad cold. ''I'm just going to give thanks that I'm here,'' the 84-year-old said. ... Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul took his 2-year-old son to the youngster's first major league game.