Dodgers find plenty of offense in 9-4 win over Padres

KEY MOMENT: The Dodgers scored twice in the fourth inning to open up a 4-1 lead, as Yasiel Puig singled in Matt Kemp and A.J. Ellis grounded out to drive in Carl Crawford. For Puig, the run batted in was his first in 16 games. The game moved completely out of the Padres’ grasp in the fifth inning, when the Dodgers scored four runs, including three on a home run by Crawford.

AT THE PLATE: Hanley Ramirez was four for five with two runs batted in. Ramirez drove in Dee Gordon in the first inning for the Dodgers’ first run. Juan Uribe doubled the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0 in the second inning with a home run against Odrisamer Despaigne. Crawford was three for four with a walk.

ON THE MOUND: Clayton Kershaw limited the Padres to three runs (one earned) and three hits over eight innings. He struck out eight and walked two, becoming the majors’ first 18-game winner. Pedro Baez gave up a home run to Yasmani Grandal in the ninth inning.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Dodgers will open the 2015 season at Dodger Stadium against the Padres on April 4, according to a tentative schedule released Monday by Major League Baseball. The game will fall on a Monday. Because the season is starting about a week later than it did this year, it will also end later. The Dodgers’ final regular-season game will be Oct. 4, also at Dodger Stadium against the Padres. The Freeway Series will be uncharacteristically spread out, with the Dodgers playing host to the Angels from July 31 to Aug. 2 and visiting Anaheim on Sept. 7-9. The Dodgers’ other interleague games will also be against teams from the American League West: vs. Seattle (April 13-15), at Texas (June 15-16), vs. Texas (June 17-18), vs. Oakland (July 28-29), at Oakland (Aug. 18-19), at Houston (Aug. 21-23).

EXTRA BASES: Farm director De Jon Watson is a candidate to become the Diamondbacks’ next general manager, the Arizona Republic reported.

UP NEXT: Roberto Hernandez (8-10, 4.00 ERA) will face San Diego’s Andrew Cashner (2-7, 2.39) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. On the air: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.