San Francisco Giants Rally For 12-Inning Win Over Dodgers
By Phil Watson
Apr 15, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan (right) signals that he is safe after sliding into home plate during the ninth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Hector Sanchez drove in Brandon Crawford with a single in the bottom of the 12th inning as the San Francisco Giants rallied for a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday at AT&T Park.
Crawford stroked a one-out single off reliever Brandon League (0-1) and moved up to second on Brandon Hicks’ ground out that deflected off third baseman Juan Uribe to shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who threw to first for the out. League’s wild pitch moved Crawford to third and Sanchez hit a ball up the middle that second baseman Justin Turner couldn’t quite pull in, sending Crawford home.
Yusmiero Petit (1-1), San Francisco’s eighth pitcher of the night, worked one inning and allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout, to earn the win.
It was a busy night for the bullpens as both starters worked just five innings. Tim Lincecum allowed only Uribe’s homer in the second inning and came out after 93 pitches, allowing a run on five hits with five strikeouts. Josh Beckett worked five shutout innings but was lifted after throwing 90 pitches. He allowed two hits and struck out four, but walked five.
Trailing 1-0, the Giants (9-5) got the equalizer in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Chris Withrow. Hunter Pence led off with a single to right and Michael Morse reached on a throwing error by Ramirez, putting runners at first and second. Pence moved up to third on a wild pitch by Withrow and Crawford lined a sacrifice fly to center field to score Pence.
The Dodgers (9-5) didn’t need long to reclaim the lead. Jean Machi came in for the Giants to start the seventh and gave up a leadoff double to Uribe. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Turner grounded a single up the middle to put Los Angeles up 2-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen couldn’t finish it out. Angel Pagan reached on an infield single with one out and Brandon Belt followed with a double to left field that tied it. With the potential winning run at second base, Pablo Sandoval struck out and after Buster Posey was intentionally walked, Pence flew out to right.
San Francisco had a chance in the bottom of the 10th. Gregor Blanco was originally called out on a grounder fielded by pitcher Jamey Wright, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged the call, which was overturned after review. Crawford attempted to sacrifice, but beat Wright’s throw to first and Hicks followed with a successful sacrifice to put the winning run on third. Hector Sanchez walked to load the bases, but Pagan popped out and Belt flew out to left to end the threat.
Petit faced a challenge in the top of the 12th. Ramirez doubled with one out, moved up to third on a fly out by Yasiel Puig, but Petit got Andre Ethier to ground out to end the threat.
David Huff worked a perfect inning for the Giants, Machi allowed a run on a walk and a hit while retiring one batter, Javier Lopez got one out and allowed a hit, J.C. Gutierrez allowed two hits and struck out three in 2.1 innings, Sergio Romo allowed a walk in the 10th and Santiago Casilla gave up two hits in the 11th.
The Giants ended up with 12 hits—10 off the relief corps—with Belt and Pence registering three each and Crawford going 2-for-5.
The series continues Wednesday at A&T Park, with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 8.00 ERA) scheduled for the Giants and lefty Paul Maholm (0-1, 8.10) set to toe the rubber for Los Angeles.