Dodgers score more than two runs! And it still isn’t enough, as Giants hang on for 6-5 victory
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The Dodgers, all tired of that Marvin Gaye routine -- it takes two / to make a dream come true -- actually managed to score five runs Friday.
The Dodgers had been acting like two runs was some kind of unofficial ceiling to their offense.
So the good news is they scraped together some runs Friday. Alas, the bonus runs still weren’t enough, the Dodgers losing again as the Giants came back behind Aubrey Huff and Tim Lincecum to drop the Dodgers, 6-5.
The Dodgers are averaging two runs per game in their 15 games since the All-Star break. And were stuck there again until scoring three late runs in the ninth.
This is not a pattern. It’s an official downward spiral. It’s offensive implosion.
With the victory, the Giants raised their record to 59-45 and pulled within 2 ½ games of the Padres in the National League West. With the loss, the Dodgers fell to 54-49 and remain seven games back of the Padres.
Things started well enough for the Dodgers, with Russell Martin collecting his first career hit off Lincecum to score Casey Blake in the second.
The Giants tied it in the bottom of the inning on a Juan Uribe solo home run.
Rafael Furcal did the same for the Dodgers to lead off the third, but then they blew a nice opportunity to expand their lead.
Andre Either singled and James Loney doubled him to third, still with no outs. Matt Kemp followed with a bouncer to Uribe at short, and for some reason Ethier broke for home. He was thrown out by 10 feet.
Lincecum hit Blake with a pitch for the second time, loading the bases, but Blake DeWitt struck out and Martin bounced out to first. The Dodgers’ offense had peaked.
The Giants regained the lead for good with a two-out rally against Carlos Monasterios in the bottom of the inning. Andres Torres singled and Freddy Sanchez did the same to center.
Only Kemp made a lazy throw to Furcal, the ball bouncing in the dirt and past Furcal for an error that allowed the runners to advance.
Huff then drilled a two-run double off the wall in center, and the Giants were back on top.
The Giants had scored one more than two, which is about all it takes to beat the Dodgers these days.
The Giants added two more anyway in the sixth, Huff scoring on a Pat Burrell double off Jeff Weaver. Pablo Sandoval doubled in yet another.
Huff added a solo homer in the seventh.
It looked like the Dodgers were going to end the night with only two runs yet again, but at least they showed some late fight.
They scored three times in the ninth. Scott Podsednik tripled in one run and then scored on a wild pitch. Kemp singled in a last run to pull the Dodgers within one, but Chris Ray got Blake to bounce out to earn his first save as a Giant.
Lincecum (11-4) went seven innings for the Giants, allowing his two runs on seven hits. He struck out nine.
-- Steve Dilbeck