Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier are producing bulk of offense for Dodgers

SAN DIEGO — These are like the good old days again for the Dodgers.

Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are hitting.

Kemp hit his second home run of the season in the Dodgers’ 8-4 defeat to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, a two-run shot in the sixth inning to center field in spacious Petco Park. Ethier hit his first home run, a two-run blast to right field in the ninth.

“Both of us are going to need to step up and do some things to help this team win,� Kemp said. “The team counts on us to drive in runs. That’s our job and that’s what we’re going to have to do to be successful.�

The last time Kemp and Ethier went deep in the same game was in the Dodgers’ 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 19, 2010.

Kemp and Ethier each drove in eight runs in the four-game series with San Diego.

Kemp is batting .412 and has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last season.

Ethier is hitting .267, but all four of his hits have been for extra bases.

Clayton Kershaw is ready to go

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw is still battling flu symptoms but said he should be able to start the Dodgers’ home opener Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I’m still a little funky,� Kershaw said.

But compared with the three innings he pitched while severely ill on opening day, he said, “I can’t feel any worse than I did.�

Mattingly said that the Dodgers would monitor Kershaw closely over the next couple of days, but that he expects Kershaw to start Tuesday.

Josh Lindblom is emerging

The Dodgers’ over-reliance on their bullpen has produced at least one pleasant surprise: Josh Lindblom.

Lindblom, who made the opening-day roster because Ted Lilly was on the disabled list, pitched two scoreless innings Sunday. Three days earlier, he took over for a sick Kershaw, pitched two scoreless innings and earned a victory.

The 24-year-old, 6-foot-4 right-hander broke into the major leagues last season, posting a 2.73 earned-run average in 27 appearances.

“You can use him late because he throws strikes,� Mattingly said. “He’s big and strong enough to go to [multiple innings] too. He gives you different dimensions.�

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