Clayton Kershaw went seven strong innings and James Loney homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers won their sixth straight with Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Russell Martin, Jamey Carroll and Garret Anderson all drove in runs for Los Angeles, which climbed to within three games of first-place San Diego.

Kershaw (3-2) scattered three hits and allowed one run while striking out seven in his second consecutive outstanding performance.

The Padres’ lone damage against the left-hander came in the first inning when Chase Headley brought in a run with a fielder’s choice.

Jonathan Broxton needed just eight pitches to close out the ninth for his sixth save.

Loney evened things in the second with his fourth homer before the Dodgers added two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Padres starter Kevin Correia (4-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.