The Los Angeles Dodgers entered into Sunday’s game looking to split the four-game series with the San Francisco Giants, and conclude their trip on a positive note. The series finale featured a pair of offseason signees in Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir.
The offense for the Dodgers started out strong, sparked by Chase Utley reaching on a hit by pitch. Corey Seager then slapped a base hit to left field to put two on with no outs.
Justin Turner hit a high fastball to right field that dropped in front of Hunter Pence. As Pence gunned a throw up the third base line, Utley snuck by and gave the Dodgers the first run of the game.
Buster Posey threw over to first base after Turner made a wide turn and he was called out. However, challenged the call and they were left with runners on first and second with no outs. Adrian Gonzalez collected his sixth RBI of the season on a sacrifice fly that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0.
Cueto continued to get roughed up early, as a Yasiel Puig walk and Joc Pederson line-drive single loaded the bases for Trayce Thompson. After missing big opportunities with runners in scoring position in Saturday’s game, the rookie hit a two-run single to right field.
On the next pitch, Austin Barnes dropped an RBI bunt single down the first base line. The Giants responded in the bottom of the first behind a two-out rally. Singles from Posey, Pence and Brandon Belt cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-1.
Matt Duffy followed with a fourth consecutive hit, which Pence narrowly managed to score on, sliding by Barnes’ tag attempt after Puig threw a strike to the plate. Kazmir put an end to the rally by striking out Brandon Crawford.
Gonzalez reached on an infield single in the second, though nothing came of it as Cueto got Puig looking to bookend the inning with strikeouts. Kazmir set the Giants down in order in the bottom of the second, also opening and ending the inning with strikeouts.
CONTINUE READING: Giants hurt Kazmir, Dodgers with the long ball
