The Los Angeles Dodgers jumped ahead early and pulled away late for a 6-1 win over the San Francisco Giants that forced another tie for first place in the National League West standings.
One night after his throwing error resulted in a walk-off loss, Trea Turner led off the first inning with a home run to give the Dodgers a lead they never relinquished. Jay Jackson then walked Mookie Betts and Justin Turner with one out, marking the end of his start.
Moving on from their opener did not yield better results for the Giants, as Corey Seager added to the Dodgers’ lead with a sacrifice fly and AJ Pollock hit an RBI double.
Unfortunately for Pollock and the Dodgers, he suffered a right hamstring strain when caught in a rundown and thrown out at third base. Pollock was removed in the bottom of the first inning, needing assistance to get down the dugout steps.
Served it up on a Trea. pic.twitter.com/Y2daPD2Bh4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 5, 2021
Certified Slugger Boy. pic.twitter.com/t3xViaCg9d
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 5, 2021
The Dodgers didn’t score again until the sixth inning, doing so in unusual fashion after Justin Turner reached on a one-out infield single. A throwing error on the play advanced him to second base, and Turner took third on a wild pitch.
His unique journey added another layer when Turner scored on a balk call against Jose Quintana.
L.A. created more separation in the ninth inning on Corey Seager’s leadoff home run and Albert Pujols’s sacrifice fly.
Julio Urias did not have his best performance but still held the Giants to one run over 5.2 innings. He allowed eight hits but effectively pitched through traffic and finished with eight strikeouts.
Alex Vesia, Phil Bickford, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol combined to allow just two baserunners over 3.1 scoreless innings to finish out the win.
Dodgers, Giants tiebreaker
L.A. and San Francisco not only enter the series finale at Oracle Park tied in the standings and for the best record in baseball — along with the Tampa Bay Rays — but they have split their 18 head-to-head meetings thus far.
So Sunday’s matchup could loom large if a Game 163 is needed to decide the NL West, as the winner will have home-field advantage in such a scenario.
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