Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight solid innings and Andre Ethier had two hits and two RBIs to pace the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday night.

Kuroda gave up one run and five hits in improving his record to 11-13. He struck out four and walked one while frustrating the Padres, who fell one half-game behind victorious San Francisco in the National League West race.

Hong-Chih Kuo struck out the side in a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Rafael Furcal led off the Los Angeles first with a single and scored on Ethier’s double. In the third inning, Furcal singled, stole second and scored on Ethier’s single as the Dodgers took a 2-1 lead.

Los Angeles added a sixth-inning run when Rod Barajas walked with the bases loaded.

Padres starter Mat Latos (14-8) lost his third consecutive outing. He gave up three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

San Diego’s lone run scored on Miguel Tejada’s first-inning groundout.