SAN DIEGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers used four home runs to defeat the San Diego Padres 11-8 on Saturday night.

Brandon McCarthy (3-0) settled down after giving up three runs in the first inning and retired 14 of 15 batters before the Padres scored three times in the sixth inning.

McCarthy worked five-plus innings and was charged with six runs and six hits.

Los Angeles, which won its second straight, got a three-run homer from first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and two-run homers from left fielder Andre Either, second baseman Howie Kendrick and third baseman Juan Uribe.

San Diego's Ian Kennedy (0-1) was rocked for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start since a disabled list stint with a strained left hamstring.

Padres left fielder Justin Upton's sixth-inning three-run homer, his second home run of the game, sliced the Dodgers' lead to 10-6. The blast chased McCarthy, who experienced tightness in his right (throwing) elbow.

It was Upton's eighth multi-home run game of his career and gave him five RBIs.

San Diego pulled to within 10-7 in the same inning when first baseman Yonder Alonso tripled and scored on Derek Norris' groundout.

The Padres, who had three homers, have lost a season-high four straight games. They are assured of dropping their first series at Petco Park since July 18-20.

The National League West-leading Dodgers beat the Padres for the fourth time in five games this season. Last year, they won 12 of 19 against San Diego.

The Dodgers wasted little time battering Kennedy, scoring three first-inning runs.

Ethier, who was replacing Yasiel Puig (strained hamstring) in the lineup, followed shortstop Jimmy Rollins' game-opening single with his second home run of the season.

Gonzalez then doubled and catcher Yasmani Grandal singled, moving Gonzalez to third. Gonzalez scored on left fielder Carl Crawford's double, but Grandal was cut down at the plate on a strong relay from second baseman Yangervis Solarte.

Center fielder Wil Myers cut into the Dodgers' lead with a first-inning solo home run. Matt Kemp singled with one out and Upton added a two-run homer to tie the score at 3.

The Dodgers collected three more runs in the second when Gonzalez smacked a three-run homer for a 6-3 cushion. Gonzalez drove in center fielder Joc Pederson (hit by pitch) and Ethier (walk) with his seventh homer of the season -- six have come against the Padres.

Ethier started the fifth with a double, his second extra-base hit of the game. But he was thrown out at third base on Gonzalez's grounder to Alonso at first. Kendrick followed with a two-run homer for an 8-3 cushion.

That edge grew to 10-3 when Uribe stroked a two-run home run, the Dodgers' fourth homer in five innings.

NOTES: Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (strained left hamstring) came off the disabled list before his start. ... San Diego LHP Frank Garces was demoted to Triple-A El Paso. ... Padres LF Justin Upton was presented his 2014 Silver Slugger award before the game. ... Dodgers LF Yasiel Puig (strained left hamstring) is day-to-day; manager Don Mattingly said he could be a DL candidate. ... Mattingly said RHP Scott Baker is being summoned from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will start on Sunday. ... It was 39 years ago Saturday that Dodgers announcer Rick Monday, then an outfielder with the Chicago Cubs, swooped in and prevented two protesters from burning the American flag in the Dodger Stadium outfield. ... The Dodgers are in the midst of a 21-day stretch where they don't leave California.