The team that scored first suffered a loss at Oracle Park for a second consecutive night, and on Tuesday that amounted to the Los Angeles Dodgers erasing an early deficit in a 10-3 rout of the San Fransisco Giants.
Kevin Pillar’s RBI single with one out in the second inning put the Dodgers in a 1-0 deficit but also marked the start of Walker Buehler retiring 11 consecutive batters. His string was snapped by Joe Panik’s leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth.
That wound up leading to some trouble for Buehler, as Buster Posey later hit an RBI double and Brandon Belt followed with a triple to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 9-3. Dylan Floro got the Dodgers out of the sixth, closing the book on Buehler at 5.1 innings with six strikeouts and three runs allowed on six hits.
The Dodgers provided the young right-hander with a lead by finally getting to Drew Pomeranz in the fourth inning on David Freese’s three-run home run that initially appeared to be an extra-base hit off the brick wall in right field.
But as Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger were waiting to get a read on Freese’s drive, the first-base umpire signaled it was a home run.
The game then got away from the Giants as the Dodgers put together a six-run sixth inning against Ty Blach, who historically has fared well against them. Chris Taylor delivered a two-run double with the bases loaded, marking his first extra-base hit since April 14.
Austin Barnes added a two-run double of his own, and Kiké Hernandez capped off the explosion by driving in a pair on his home run to left field. After the Giants cut into the Dodgers’ lead, Justin Turner responded with a solo homer in the seventh inning.
The home run was Turner’s first of the season and just the third of his career hit before May. By going deep, Turner became the last position player on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster to hit a home run this season.
The final highlight for the Dodgers was Matt Beaty collecting a pinch-hit single in his MLB debut. Beaty joined the club in a corresponding roster move to A.J. Pollock being placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
