Cueto’s string of consecutive batters retired ended at 13 with two outs in the fifth inning as a pitch grazed the back of Utley’s leg. Home plate D.J. Reyburn disagreed with Utley’s claim he was hit, but the veteran infielder was awarded first base after the Dodgers challenged the ruling.
Cueto inadvertently threw over to first without Belt covering, which allowed Utley to move into scoring position on the errant throw. That’s as far as he reached, with Seager getting called out on strikes on a borderline outside pitch.
The Giants found some luck in the bottom of the fifth with Mac Williamson reaching on a chopper that hit off Kershaw’s leg. Seager attempted to make a late play and his ill-advised throw went into the dugout, putting Williamson on second base with one out.
Brandon Crawford then reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. However, Kershaw worked his way out of the jam on a Jarrett Parker strikeout and Cueto grounder.
The Dodgers’ inability to add to their lead caught up to them in the bottom of the sixth as Buster Posey’s RBI double to left-center field tied the game at 2-2. Cueto retired the side in order in the seventh, holding the Dodgers without a hit since the first inning.
After a Williamson strikeout, Crawford nearly put the Giants ahead with a deep fly ball that was caught in front of the fence in straightaway center field. Kershaw then got Parker swinging to give him 11 strikeouts in the game.
At that moment, Kershaw’s strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season was back up to 20-to-1. Kershaw picked up consecutive strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth and got a deep fly ball to keep the game tied.
Santiago Casilla took over for the Giants in the ninth and promptly gave up a leadoff home run to Turner on a line drive that just cleared the fence in left field. Belt hit a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth and Kenley Jansen issued a walk before earning a save in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory.
Their win cut the Giants’ lead in the NL West to three games enter playing on Saturday.
