The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Saturday’s matchup with the San Francisco Giants riding a modest three-game winning streak, and looking for a third straight win over the Giants. Just as Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner were rematch of a game last week at AT&T Park, Scott Kazmir and Johnny Cueto dueled a second time this season.
Kazmir got off to a rocky start as he bounced multiple pitches well short of home plate after giving up a leadoff single to Denard Span. Kazmir’s second ball in the dirt was a wild pitch that allowed Span to advance to second base. The Giants center fielder then scored on a chopper that went into center field, by a diving Chase Utley.
Joe Panik took second base on Kazmir’s second wild pitch of the inning. He was stranded as Buster Posey flied out, and Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt struck out swinging.
Cueto needed all of nine pitches to retire Utley, Corey Seager and Justin Turner in the first inning. The Dodgers tagged Cueto for five runs in the first inning back on his April 10 start. Both pitchers retired the side in order in the second inning.
Angel Pagan led off the third with a base hit, but he was erased on a force out at second base. Span easily stole second base, where he remained as Kazmir retired Panik and Posey. The Dodgers again didn’t manage a baserunner in the third, with Cueto ending the inning on a strikeout of Kazmir.
Pence and Belt drew back-to-back walks with no outs in the fourth. After Matt Duffy hit into a force out, Brandon Crawford drove an RBI ground-rule double over Kiké Hernandez’s head in left field. With two outs and first base open, Pagan was intentionally walked. The decision didn’t cost the Dodgers as Span grounded out to end the inning.
CONTINUE READING: Yasmani Grandal breaks up Johnny Cueto’s perfect game
