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TEX@SD: Marquis strikes out 10 Rangers despite loss

It may have taken some midsummer's magic to get their first win at Dodger Stadium this year, but after the Padres' unlikely ninth-inning comeback Saturday that included Everth Cabrera's steal of home, San Diego certainly hopes its second will be more forthcoming.

Prior to their 7-6 win Saturday, the Padres were just 2-8 against the division-rival Dodgers this season and 4-18 in their last 22 games. They hadn't won at Dodger Stadium since May 2011, a 10-game losing streak they snapped with the win.

Although those numbers may suggest that Saturday night's exciting win was a fluke, a closer look at the Dodgers' alleged dominance over the Padres this year would suggest otherwise. Half of L.A.'s eight wins over the Padres have been by just one run and another by just two runs.

So when the Padres turn to veteran Jason Marquis for the rubber game Sunday, their chances of grabbing a second straight win are not quite as low as recent results might suggest. Especially because Marquis has a 2.55 ERA in 13 career starts against the Dodgers, his second-best mark against any team in his 13-year big league career.

Marquis has made 281 starts with eight teams in that career and comes into Sunday with a 107-107 mark. He's 1-5 since joining the Padres in early June, but the 33-year-old says he's seeing significant improvement in his stuff since coming to San Diego.

"[Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley] has really helped me get my breaking ball back ... he's helped me immensely with game planning," Marquis said. "No matter what point you are in your career, there's still room for improvement."

He'll face off with Chris Capuano, who was announced as the starter on Sunday morning, when Chad Billingsley was scratched with an undisclosed injury.

Capuano (9-4, 2.91 ERA) set a season high with five earned runs allowed in his previous outing, last Sunday at Arizona. The lefty surrendered nine hits -- another season high -- and lasted five innings.

"This leaves a bad taste no doubt, but overall physically I feel great and I'm executing my pitches well," Capuano said afterward. "I'm excited for the second half. We are right there."

Capuano has faced the Padres twice this season, both at Petco Park in April. San Diego reached him for seven earned runs over 11 innings in those games.

Dodgers: Guerra on bereavement leave
Reliever Javy Guerra left the Dodgers on Saturday to head to Mexico and join his father, who was scheduled for open-heart surgery Saturday after suffering a heart attack Friday.

Guerra learned of the news Friday and spent the day making travel arrangements, though he still found the energy and focus to turn in a scoreless seventh inning against the Padres. Guerra is eligible to return to the active roster Tuesday.

Los Angeles recalled 25-year-old Josh Wall, who is 2-1 with 18 saves at Triple-A Albuquerque this year. Wall has yet to pitch in a Major League game in his career.

Padres: Cabrera can't be caught
When Cabrera stole home to tie the game in the ninth in Saturday's 7-6 win, it was his 16th steal of the season in 16 chances. That is the longest streak to start a season by any Padres player, which is saying something when you consider the fact that all-time steals leader Rickey Henderson played two years in San Diego. His longest streak was 12 (1997).

But Cabrera did not play his first big league game of 2012 until May 17, logging 34 games at Triple-A Tuscon prior to that callup. The 25-year-old was 15-for-15 in stolen base attempt in the Minors, making him 31-for-31 overall in 2012.

Worth noting
• Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have made emphatic returns to the Dodgers' lineup this series. Both had three hits in Saturday night's loss, and the pair have combined to go 8-for-16 overall in the first two games of the second half.

• Four of Padres third baseman Chase Headley's nine home runs this season have come against the Dodgers.

• With his scoreless ninth Saturday, Padres closer Huston Street extended his scoreless streak to 10 1/3 innings, the longest active streak of any San Diego pitcher. Over that stretch, he has allowed just two hits in 32 at-bats. He is now 14-for-14 in save opportunities.

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