"Hiroki Kuroda hasn't decided where he's going to pitch next year, but if he keeps turning in performances like he did Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, he's going to be in demand on two continents.

Kuroda scattered five hits and held the first-place San Diego Padres to one run, leading the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory.

Kuroda struggled to get through the first inning but was dominant the rest of the way.

He retired 14 of the last 15 batters he faced and left after eight innings.

Kuroda retired the side in order in the second, fifth, seventh and eighth innings, and got double-play help to get out of the first and fourth innings.

"I was inconsistent with my control in the first inning and getting over that hurdle was the key of the game," Kuroda said through a translator.

The hurdle was Will Venable at third base and David Eckstein at first with no outs.

Venable scored on a grounder and after an intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Ludwick hit into an inning-ending double play.

That was essentially it for the Padres offense.

"He threw a lot of pitches in the first inning (22) and yet his pitch count was very economical," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "He was dominant. It was great to watch."

The Dodgers tied the score in the bottom of the first when Rafael Furcal scored from first base on a line-hugging double to right by Andre Ethier."