LOS ANGELES -- Ed Whitson pitched six strong innings, and two errors by backup first baseman Stan Javier led to three unearned runs as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3, yesterday for a three-game sweep.

"I've played first base before, I just had a bad day, a long day," Javier said. "You just have to play the best you can."

Whitson (1-0) allowed three hits, walked none and struck out four, retiring his final 17 batters. Pat Clements pitched 1 2/3 inning and Craig Lefferts finished the five-hitter for his second save.

Juan Samuel gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead on the first inning with the Dodgers' first home run in 139 at-bats this season.

"I got my feet on the ground after the first inning, and I knew I had pretty good stuff after that," Whitson said. "When I was warming up in the bullpen and even in the first inning, I didn't feel like I had good stuff. But after that, I settled down and started pitching my game. I started spotting the fastball and throwing that palmball over, and that really helped."

Mike Morgan (0-1) gave up three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, but the runs were unearned as the Dodgers made four errors. Kevin Gross, knocked out after four outs on Saturday, pitched the ninth inning for the Dodgers.