Gonzalez double in ninth lifts Dodgers over Giants
LOS ANGELES -- Adrian Gonzalez hit a walk-off double in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers stunned the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers (85-65) padded their lead in the National League West to six games over the Giants (79-71), who dropped their third in a row. Los Angeles reduced its magic number to seven for the division title.
Giants relievers Will Smith and Derek Law combined to work a scoreless eighth before the Giants self-destructed in the final inning. Law served up a lead-off single to pinch-hitter Andrew Toles before Corey Seager followed with a single off Javier Lopez (1-3), allowing Toles to take third with no outs.
Turner's RBI single off reliever Hunter Strickland scored Toles to knot the score at 1. Gonzalez then delivered his game-winner.
Joe Blanton (6-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
Tempers flared and the benches cleared at the end of the seventh after Giants starter Madison Bumgarner fielded a weak grounder by Yasiel Puig and threw him out. After the play, the two exchanged words and confronted each other near first base before players from both teams joined into the fray with some minor pushing and shoving. No one was ejected.
It was the second time Puig and Bumgarner have had a confrontation. On Sept. 24, 2014, Puig and Bumgarner faced off between the mound and home plate after the left-hander hit the Cuban with a pitch.
Bumgarner, who was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth, fanned 10 with no walks and one hit -- a second-inning double by Puig being the only damage -- in seven innings. Bumgarner also hit Yasmani Grandal in the second and pinch-hitter Rob Segedin in the sixth.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw gave up a run (unearned) on three hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in six innings but did not factor into the decision. Kershaw, who retired the final seven batters he faced, threw 88 pitches (62 strikes).
The Giants grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third. Eduardo Nunez reached on an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Grandal's throwing error. Nunez scored on a wild pitch by Kershaw.
NOTES: Dodgers Hall of Famer Vin Scully said the attention he is receiving is "embarrassing" as he winds down his legendary broadcasting career. Scully will work the booth for the final time when the Dodgers visit the Giants on Oct. 2 in San Francisco. He will not work the playoffs. The Dodgers are holding several celebrations this week to honor the 88-year-old Scully during their final regular-season homestand. ... The Dodgers called up INF/OF Micah Johnson from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (16-5, 2.86 ERA) will oppose Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (12-4, 2.06) on Tuesday.