Dodgers beat Giants in 10 innings
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers used a rare sacrifice fly to the first baseman as part of a four-run uprising in the top of the 10th inning Thursday afternoon that allowed them to defeat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 and split a four-game series.
The extra-inning affair was the second straight in a series in which the first three games were all decided by one run.
The National League rivals will meet again next week in a three-game series in Los Angeles.
With the score tied 1-1, pinch-hitter Adrian Gonzalez led off the Los Angeles 10th with a walk against the fourth Giants pitcher, right-hander Cory Gearrin (0-1).
After failing to bunt against left-hander Steven Okert, pinch-hitter Chase Utley singled, before a third consecutive pinch hitter, Yasmani Grandal, walked to load the bases.
Andrew Toles put the Dodgers ahead with a single that scored Ross Stripling, who was pinch running for Gonzalez.
Facing right-hander Hunter Strickland, Kike Hernandez followed with a high pop fly down the right-field line, which Giants first baseman Buster Posey was able to catch after bobbling. Utley tagged and scored on what was scored a sacrifice fly.
Justin Turner made it a three-run inning with an RBI single that increased his hitting streak to 13 games, and Strickland walked Chris Taylor with the bases loaded to make it 5-1.
Kenley Jansen (1-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth inning, got the win for the Dodgers. Right-hander Chris Hatcher retired the Giants in the bottom of the ninth.
Christian Arroyo and Kelby Tomlinson had two hits apiece for the Giants, who out-hit the Dodgers 7-5.
The game began as a pitchers' duel between left-handers Julio Urias of the Dodgers and Matt Moore of the Giants.
Promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make his Dodgers season debut, Urias held the Giants to one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 20-year-old walked four and struck out four.
The second-year Dodger contributed to the only run he allowed not only by walking Brandon Belt with one out in the sixth inning, but then by throwing wildly on a pickoff attempt, allowing the baserunner to advance to third.
Urias struck out Eduardo Nunez, but after intentionally walking Posey, he served up a hard single to center field to Arroyo, which tied the game at 1-1.
Moore settled down big-time after allowing a home run to the second batter he faced, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. He surrendered just one more hit through seven innings, leaving, like Urias, in a 1-1 tie.
Moore walked three and struck out eight, including six looking.
Taylor had the Dodgers' only other hit until the 10th inning, a leadoff single in the seventh. He reached third base with one out before Moore struck out the last two batters he faced, Scott Van Slyke and Cody Bellinger.
NOTES: Dodgers SS Corey Seager's home run came on his 23rd birthday. He became the third major-leaguer to homer on his birthday in the last 10 days, joining Detroit Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera (April 18) and New York Yankees OF Aaron Judge (April 26). ... The birthday homer was the 19th in Dodgers history. Before Seager, the last two do it was RF Matt Kemp in 2014. ... Giants RHP Matt Moore's six strikeouts looking equaled the major league high for the season, held by six others. ... In order to create a spot on the active roster for LHP Julio Urias, the Dodgers demoted LHP Adam Liberatore to Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... The Giants drew their 500th consecutive sellout at AT&T Park. ... Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant was among those in the sellout crowd.