SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Chris Taylor reaches for a ground-ball single by San Diego Padres’ Austin Hedges during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross works against a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is tagged out by Freddy Galvis #13 of the San Diego Padres as he tries to steal second base during the third inning of a baseball game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling watches a throw to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws his helmet after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers argues a call with umpire Jordan Baker during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson hits a double during the sixth inning to break up a no-hitter being thrown by the Padres’ Tyson Ross on Thursday in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Andrew Toles watches his RBI single during the seventh inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Dodgers’ Andrew Toles hits an RBI single to break a scoreless tie and begin a three-run seventh inning in Thursday’s game against the Padres in San Diego. The Dodgers won 3-2. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor runs home to score the first run of the game during the seventh inning Thursday night in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Justin Turner, center, gestures from the dugout toward teammate Andrew Toles after Toles’ RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Dodgers’ Matt Kemp follows through on an RBI single during the seventh inning of Thursday’s game in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Padres catcher Austin Hedges, left, tags out the Dodgers’ Kike’ Hernandez (14), who trying to score from second on an RBI single by Matt Kemp during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson watches his RBI single during the seventh inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp gestures after reaching third from first on an RBI single by Joc Pederson during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Wil Myers #4 of the San Diego Padres hits an RBI double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Franmil Reyes #32 of the San Diego Padres scores ahead of the tag of Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of a baseball game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
San Diego Padres shortstop Freddy Galvis, right, throws to first from his knees for the out on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner as Padres second baseman Jose Pirela, left, watches during the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Freddy Galvis #13 of the San Diego Padres reacts after striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park on July 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers closing pitcher Kenley Jansen celebrates after defeating the San Diego Padres in a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. The Dodgers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Dodgers closing pitcher Kenley Jansen, right, celebrates with teammate catcher Yasmani Grandal after defeating the San Diego Padres in a baseball game Thursday, July 12, 2018, in San Diego. The Dodgers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO — Ross Stripling is going to the All-Star Game. Tyson Ross is most assuredly not.
But it took a soft single by Andrew Toles in the seventh inning to separate the two and drive in the first run in a three-run seventh inning. That pushed the Dodgers past the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Thursday night – and into first place.
The win allowed the Dodgers to leap-frog the Arizona Diamondbacks (who lost earlier in the day) and move into first for only the second time this season. They took over first place despite going only 4-3 on a seven-game trip to Anaheim and San Diego. The Diamondbacks have lost nine of their last 13 games.
“It beats second place,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked the significance of a division lead on July 12.
“Beats being in fourth place, too.”
That’s where the Dodgers were on May 16 when a six-game losing streak to the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins dropped them 10 games under .500 (16-26).
“It feels good,” said Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who took over the NL lead in saves (26) Thursday. “Shoot, how we started in April who knew how the season was going to go for us?”
If you’ve been following this team, you kind of knew.
That 16-26 start was the first time they had been 10 games under .500 since June 2013. That season, the Dodgers won 60 of their next 88 games after hitting rock bottom and won the first of five consecutive division titles.
The Dodgers have done their part to follow a similar script. They have gone 35-16, the best record in the National League, since May 16.
“If we can be in first place three days from now at the All-Star break, that would be good,” Stripling said. “Obviously the Diamondbacks have put a good season together. We’ve been grinding along with them.”
It’s no coincidence that the Dodgers’ turnaround began when Justin Turner’s season did. Turner missed the first 40 games of the season with a fractured wrist. Though he hasn’t been as productive this year as last year when he made the All-Star team, he remains vital to the lineup.
That lineup has lost some of its vibrancy during this seven-game trip to Anaheim and San Diego. The Dodgers batted .190 with only three home runs and 24 runs scored on the trip and were held to three runs or fewer in five of the seven games.
Now, they might have to make do without Turner, albeit briefly, again. Roberts said Turner aggravated a groin or hamstring muscle while running to first on a ground-out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. Turner will not be in the lineup Friday and will be re-evaluated.
Ross was not a likely suspect to keep the lid on the Dodgers’ offense. In his previous two starts, the right-hander had a 19.29 ERA and opposing batters had a 1.427 OPS. But he held the Dodgers hitless into the sixth inning when a one-out double by Joc Pederson broke the spell.
Stripling had a rockier road. He didn’t have a 1-2-3 inning until the sixth after scattering six hits and a walk over the first five innings, stranding all seven runners on base, most notably striking Ross out with the bases loaded to end the fourth inning.
“It was just kind of a battle,” Stripling said. “I felt like they had a lot of good ABs. I definitely wasn’t missing a lot of barrels. … A little bit of luck on my part tonight. Might have built up some bad karma. There might be some bloopers in my future.”
The Dodgers finally broke through against Ross in the seventh inning when Chris Taylor lashed a one-out double down the left-field line. Toles dropped his single into left field to drive in the game’s first run and end Ross’ night.
Things went south for the Padres after that. The Dodgers batted around, scoring three times on four hits, a walk and two hit batters – one a classic, don’t-flinch, barely-there graze of Chase Utley’s left leg. Matt Kemp and Pederson joined Toles with RBI singles.
That was just enough when Wil Myers drove in two with a two-out double off Scott Alexander in the seventh. Dylan Floro and Jansen closed it out over the final two innings.
