The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games by edging the San Francisco Giants, 3-2, on a night where solo home runs and missed opportunities were the story. L.A. moved to within 1.5 games of first place in the National League West with the victory.
Mookie Betts and Max Muncy opened the scoring with back-to-back home runs off Anthony DeSclafani in the first inning. It marked the sixth time in Dodgers franchise history they opened a game in the top or bottom of the first inning with consecutive home runs.
“He doesn’t fall behind often. So you have tot ry and take advantage when he does. He gave me a good pitch to hit,” Betts said of his homer off the Giants’ starter.
After the Dodgers’ 2-0 lead was cut in half by LaMonte Wade Jr.’s home run in the third inning, Will Smith answered back with a solo shot of his own in the fourth, and that wound up being the difference in the game.
Back-to-back? Making a giant statement. pic.twitter.com/O0ruudKQIm
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 29, 2021
No ill Will, just dunking on ‘em. pic.twitter.com/iiw7b4NK8d
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 29, 2021
DeSclafani has allowed 15 runs and five home runs in 12.1 innings against L.A. this season, and 16 runs and six homers to all other opponents over 80.1 frames.
Bauer surrendered a second solo home run on the night when Brandon Crawford ambushed a first-pitch fastball to lead off the sixth inning. “It’s definitely bad luck,” Bauer said of his continued home run woes this season.
“I mean, it’s not like I’m missing middle with pitches. At some point it will get better, I guess. I don’t know. Happy they’re solos, I guess.”
Dodgers bullpen escapes trouble
The Giants had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead against the Dodgers’ bullpen, putting two runners on in the seventh and eighth innings. Victor Gonzalez and Blake Treinen worked through the traffic, and Kenley Jansen benefitted from Cody Bellinger recovering after overrunning the ball to prevent Mike Tauchman from stretching a leadoff single to a double in the ninth.
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