Trevor Bauer continued to be plagued by his home run troubles, but the Los Angeles Dodgers put together a power display of their own to narrowly defeat the San Francisco Giants, 3-2. The win pulled L.A. to 2.5 games back of San Francisco in the National League West standings.
Mookie Betts and Max Muncy got the Dodgers going early with back-to-back home runs off Anthony DeSclafani in the first inning. It was Betts’ fourth leadoff home run and 10th overall this season, and the 16th long ball for Muncy.
It also marked the sixth time in Dodgers franchise history they hit back-to-back homers to start a game in either the top or bottom of the first inning.
DeSclafani largely settled in from there but did give up a third solo home run on the night when Will Smith took him deep in the fourth. DeSclafani remained in the game through the fifth and on the season has allowed 15 runs and five home runs in 12.1 innings against L.A., and 16 runs and six homers to all other opponents over 80.1 frames.
DeSclafani was lifted in favor of pinch-hitter Darin Ruf, who struck out to end the sixth inning and strand the tying run at second base. Bauer let out a yell on the swing and miss, thumped his chest and pointed to the Dodger Stadium crowd as he walked of the field.
His night came to an end at that point, with Bauer collecting eight strikeouts and limiting damage despite allowing eight hits. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Brandon Crawford each hit a solo home run off Bauer.
The Giants had two runners reach in both the seventh and eighth innings, but Victor Gonzalez and Blake Treinen worked out of their respective jams. Kenley Jansen got some help from Cody Bellinger as he had the ball take a tricky hop on a leadoff single but recovered to throw out Mike Tauchman on his attempt to stretch it to a double.
Dodgers aware of Giants
San Francisco being in first place in the NL West and owners of the best record in baseball has surprised many, but the Dodgers are certainly mindful of the formidable challenge in the division.
“I think there isn’t a person in this organization that didn’t feel we’d be leading the division at this date, but it is what it is,” Roberts said before the game.
“We’ve got to play better and overcome the Giants. There’s plenty of time left to do that. We’ve got a big series right in front of us and we can kind of break into that lead a little bit.”
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