Julio Urias and Logan Webb combined for a pitchers’ duel that eventually broke in favor of the San Francisco Giants in a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. L.A. dropped to three games back of San Francisco for first place in the National League West standings.
Webb held the Dodgers to just one baserunner through four innings — on Justin Turner’s walk in the opening frame. Cody Bellinger’s leadoff single in the fifth ended Webb’s no-hitter and was his first hit against the Giants this season.
Billy McKinney’s line-drive single into center field broke up the scoreless tie and marked his first RBI with the Dodgers.
Facing the Giants a fourth time this season, Urias didn’t seem to suffer from any effects that could come with familiarity. He allowed a single in the first inning but induced a double play to face the minimum, and worked around a one-out base hit in the third.
Buster Posey led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single, only for Urias to retire the next seven batters faced. That was snapped by an Austin Slate one-out double in the sixth inning that wound up marking the beginning of the end for Urias.
Posey followed with his second hit of the night to tie the game and Darin Ruf made it three hits in a row to chase Urias from the game. Brusdar Graterol benefitted from Bellinger making a leaping backhanded catch to end the inning.
Jimmy Nelson had trouble finding a grip and hit consecutive batters with one out in the seventh inning. Nelson then got a soft liner for an out and so did Blake Treinen to get the Dodgers out of trouble.
L.A. had an opportunity to break the tie in the eighth after Chris Taylor’s double off the wall in center field put two runners in scoring position. Luke Raley was thrown out at home plate on a contact play when Max Muncy grounded to first base, and Justin Turner flied out.
The inability to take advantage of runners in scoring position and Treinen losing command led to the Giants pulling ahead in the eighth. Back-to-back walks put two on with nobody out, and after taking a throw from Muncy, Bellinger attempted to backpick Posey at third base but his throw sailed well over Turner’s head.
It could be reasoned Muncy’s momentum carrying him toward Bellinger caused the throw to be off target. Bellinger started at first base as a means of alleviating pressure on his legs as he works to overcome left hamstring tightness.
Dodgers linked to Scherzer
With the MLB trade deadline looming on Friday, the Dodgers have been among the teams connected to Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer. He reportedly prefers to be sent to the Dodgers, Giants or San Diego Padres.
Scherzer holds a no-trade clause as a player with 10-and-5 rights.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
