Padres blow out the Dodgers, 11-3

KEY MOMENT: Effectively, the game ended minutes after it started. Carlos Frias put the first three batters on base, and Justin Upton crushed a grand slam to give the Padres a four-run lead before the game’s first out.

AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers mustered one hit until the seventh inning, when they finally assembled their biggest inning since a three-run third inning against the Rockies on May 15. The first three batters — Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick and Juan Uribe — singled. Andre Ethier followed by grounding into a double play, but it was enough to score the Dodgers’ first run of the game. The next batter, Alex Guerrero knocked a two-run home run to left field. With the exception of the seventh inning, the Dodgers didn’t make right-hander James Shields work. He used just 79 pitches in seven innings of work and struck out seven batters.

ON THE MOUND: Instead of pulling Frias in the second inning, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly kept Frias in the game to save the bullpen from overwork. “He came to me and told me, ‘Leave the first two innings behind,’” Frias said. He lasted four innings, and five relievers chipped in an inning each. Paco Rodriguez, Yimi Garcia, J.P. Howell and Sergio Santos all threw scoreless frames, and Juan Nicasio gave up one run in the eighth. “That’s kind of the game at that point, is for us to try to keep everyone available for tomorrow,” Mattingly said.

IN THE FIELD: The Padres scored more than enough runs for a comfortable victory, but Enrique Hernandez prevented one more. In the eighth inning, the left fielder threw out Abraham Almonte trying to score from second after a base hit.

EXTRA BASES: Catcher Austin Barnes, who was playing in his first major league game, recorded his first hit in the eighth inning. ... Mattingly said catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list on Saturday, is feeling better. The team plans to have Grandal play multiple minor league games to stay sharp before he is eligible to return. “I think he felt like he could’ve kept going, but again, we tried to err on the side of caution,” Mattingly said. … Right-handed pitcher Joel Peralta, who is on the disabled list because of right-shoulder soreness, has begun to throw, Mattingly said. … Mattingly also reported that right-hander Pedro Baez, who is on the disabled list because of a strained pectoral muscle, is pain-free and will begin a throwing program soon.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Brett Anderson (2-2, 3.61 ERA) will face Atlanta Braves right-hander Williams Perez (0-0, 6.14) on Monday at 5 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.

— Zach Helfand