The Los Angeles Dodgers had plenty of runners on base but failed to capitalize and suffered a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a four-game series. The win was the Giants’ fifth in their past six games and they improved to an MLB-best 16-6 in one-run games.
Kenta Maeda endured a shaky second inning as a leadoff walk and base hit immediately put him in trouble. Brandon Crawford’s two-run double off the base of the wall in right field gave the Giants a lead.
Maeda buckled down to retire the next three batters faced, limiting the damage. Despite fighting a soaring pitch count, he got through five innings to avoid completely taxing the bullpen. Maeda retired 12 of the final 13 batters faced but exited with the Dodgers trailing, and therefore suffered the loss.
Rookie Tyler Beede issued five walks over six innings but limited the Dodgers to just three hits and earned his first win in nine career games (seven starts) over the past two seasons. Beede entered with an 8.06 ERA this year.
One of the Dodgers’ hits was a solo home run to Max Muncy that cut their deficit in half in the second inning. At 433 feet, it marked Muncy’s longest homer of the season and third-longest of his career. The blast to right field additionally extended his hitting streak to six games.
Matt Beaty’s two-out walk in the third inning put the go-ahead run on base for Cody Bellinger, who lined out. Beede walked two more in the fourth but benefitted from the second bringing Maeda to plate.
Joc Pederson snapped 0-for-29 skid with leadoff infield single in fifth inning, and Bellinger later walked. Brandon Crawford then made a terrific play on the right side of the infield to rob Muncy of a hit and preserve the Giants’ lead.
The Dodgers’ uphill battle grew when Julio Urias started the sixth inning with back-to-back walks. Apparent miscommunication between Beaty and Urias on a potential 3-6-3 double play led to a Chris Taylor throwing error after a force out, allowing a run to score.
That ultimately loomed large as the Dodgers manufactured a run against Tony Watson in the eighth inning. Singles by Bellinger and Muncy put runners at the corners for Taylor, who beat out a potential double play ball. Kiké Hernandez failed to keep the rally alive, popping out on the first pitch.
Will Smith set the Dodgers down in order in the ninth inning to convert his 19th save of the season.
