Kershaw ensures Dodgers end skid

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers desperately needed a stopper to end their six-game losing streak. Up stepped Clayton Kershaw, with his arm and his bat.

Kershaw pitched a three-hitter, struck out 14 and singled home the only run, leading the Dodgers over the Padres 1-0 on Sunday.

“You’d be lying if you said that you didn’t want to be the guy to end the streak, so it definitely feels good to be a part of that,” Kershaw said.

“We definitely needed a win, there’s no doubt about it. Fin- ishing the game is great — something you take a little pride in, for sure.”

Kershaw (3-1) pitched his 13th shutout and 22nd complete game in 248 career starts. The lefty walked none and retired the first 14 batters.

Kershaw’s single in the third inning off Drew Pomeranz (2-2) was one of three hits the Padres lefty allowed through seven innings.

Kershaw set the tone by striking out his first four batters on 16 pitches.

“It’s always great to get off to a good start like that,” he said. “Sometimes in a day game here, I know some guys complain about being able to see the ball. So I’m sure that played into it a little bit.”

Kershaw is 6-0 with a 0.98 ERA in his last nine starts against the Padres. The 2014 NL MVP threw seven innings of one-hit ball at San Diego on opening day in a 15-0 victory.

“You definitely knew he was on his game,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “He was so locked in and so dominant, he was extremely tough to square up.”

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner improved to 53-25 in 120 starts after a Dodgers loss.

The game took just 2 hours, 7 minutes.