Dodgers shut down the Padres for 3-0 victory

KEY MOMENT: Zack Greinke walked Yonder Alfonso to start the bottom of the second inning, then proceeded to give up singles to Derek Norris and Will Middlebrooks to load the bases with no outs. Greinke responded by striking out Alexi Amarista and Andrew Cashner. The next batter, Wil Myers, lined out to Howie Kendrick at second base, ending the inning and preserving the Dodgers’ 1-0 advantage.

AT THE PLATE: In his first at-bat at Petco Park since he was traded to the Dodgers as part of the deal that sent Matt Kemp to the Padres, catcher Yasmani Grandal narrowly missed homering down the left-field line. Grandal settled for a double and scored on a single to center field by Juan Uribe. The Dodgers doubled their lead to 2-0 in the seventh inning on a solo home run by Carl Crawford. Grandal scored another run in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly by Joc Pederson.

ON THE MOUND: Greinke continued to pitch like the ace of a staff that includes Clayton Kershaw, limiting the Padres to four hits and three walks over seven shutout innings. Greinke struck out seven and lowered his earned-run average to 1.35. Pedro Baez gave up a two-out double to Matt Kemp in the eighth inning, followed by a single to Justin Upton that gave the Padres runners on the corners. But left-hander Paco Rodriguez entered the game and forced the left-handed-hitting Alonso to hit into an inning-ending groundout. Yimi Garcia earned a save by pitching a perfect ninth inning.

EXTRA BASES: Tired of David Vassegh mocking his lack of speed, Adrian Gonzalez challenged the DodgerTalk host to a foot face before the game. Gonzalez won by a wide margin. … Before the Dodgers face the Colorado Rockies on May 16 at Dodger Stadium, they will host their annual Old-Timers Game. Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser will be among the participants. Sandy Koufax will take part in the festivities but won’t play.

UP NEXT: Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 4.50 ERA) will face the San Diego Padres and Ian Kennedy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Petco Park at 5:30 p.m. On the air: TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.