Cain, Giants dump Dodgers 2-1
SAN FRANCISCO -- Matt Cain pitched six shutout innings and teamed with four relievers on a four-hitter, delivering the San Francisco Giants a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in the opener of a four-game series.
Joe Panik and Hunter Pence drove in runs for the Giants, who staggered home from a 1-4 trip on which they were outscored 29-10.
Cain, whose 5.64 ERA was the eighth highest in the majors last season among pitchers with more than 15 starts, threw his third consecutive strong game, allowing only two hits and one walk. He struck out three.
He has now allowed just two runs in his past three starts, all of which resulted in Giants wins.
Ahead 1-0, the Giants scored the difference-making run in the seventh inning on a two-out, two-strike single by Pence that scored Panik, who had led off the inning with a single.
The run came against the Los angeles bullpen after starter Hyun-Jin Ryu left trailing 1-0 after six innings.
Ryu had his best start after two injury-plagued seasons, limiting the Giants to one run and five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out three.
The Dodgers got within 2-1 against the San Francisco bullpen in the eighth when pinch hitter Chris Taylor's infield out plated Chase Utley, who had opened the inning with a walk.
However, with the potential tying run aboard, Derek Law, the fourth Giants pitcher, struck out Andrew Toles before Buster Posey gunned down Taylor trying to steal to end the inning.
Closer Mark Melancon pitched around a one-out bloop hit by Justin Turner and a two-out wild pitch in a scoreless ninth for his fourth save, the game ending when Posey picked Turner off second base.
The single by Turner extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Pence, Posey and Brandon Crawford had two hits apiece for the Giants (7-13), who have beaten the Dodgers six straight in San Francisco.
Utley reached base twice on walks for the Dodgers (9-11), who lost for the third time in four games on their current seven-game trip.
The Giants, who opened a seven-game homestand, out-hit the Dodgers 8-4.
NOTES: Before the game, Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner made his first public comments about his dirt-bike accident last week in Denver, insisting he hadn't been speeding or doing stunts when he crashed and sustained bruised ribs and a sprained shoulder. Bumgarner gave no timetable for his return. ... Bumgarner's spot in the Giants' rotation will be taken by LHP Ty Blach, who is scheduled to oppose Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the series Tuesday. ... The Giants made a series of roster moves before the game, promoting 3B Christian Arroyo and OF Drew Stubbs from Triple-A Sacramento to replace INF Aaron Hill (disabled list, strained right forearm) and LF Chris Marrero (designated for assignment). Arroyo and Stubbs both started the game and went a combined 0-for-6. ... The Dodgers placed CF Joc Pederson (strained right groin) on the 10-day DL before the game and recalled OF Brett Eibner, who had been demoted Sunday, from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced before the game that LHP Julio Urias, who began the season at Triple-A, will start Thursday's series finale, with RHP Kenta Maeda pushed back to Friday against Philadelphia.