Giants Let Dodgers Walk Off, Wilson Picks Up Win
Sep 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (center) after he hit a walk-off single against the San Francisco Giants in tenth inning at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers took Game 1 from the Giants by a final tally of 3-2 in 10 innings. But perhaps the more intriguing headline: Brian Wilson, a former Giant, got a bit of revenge. The former All-Star closer picked up the win against his former club. It isn’t much, but it’s something.
Jeremy Affeldt, however, was hardly a hero on Thursday night. Fresh off the disabled list , the veteran lefty was thrusted right into the fire. Carl Crawford singled to lead off the 10th on a curveball that came close to hitting the dirt. Crawford poked it through the hole on the right side of the infield.
Nick Punto then bunted Crawford to second. That set the stage for Adrian Gonzalez, who’s quietly having a solid year, and after jockeying with Affeldt for seven pitches, Gonzalez’s sharp ground ball into center field won the game for the Dodgers. It was close. Angel Pagan cleanly fielded Gonzalez’s hit, which had some steam to it. But Crawford’s speed spoiled Pagan’s solid throw and Buster Posey’s quick attempt to tag him.
The Giants had a chance in the eighth inning. After Pagan singled and Marco Scutaro walked, Brandon Belt collected his first career sacrifice bunt to advanced the runners. However, Hunter Pence swung at Chris Withrow’s first offering, and the result was a double play.
Gregor Blanco erased Pence’s hiccup in the ninth when he singled home the tying run. Pablo Sandoval’s lead-off single started it all, because speedster Juan Perez could took Sandoval’s spot on the base paths. On cue, he swiped second. Brandon Crawford couldn’t move him over to third, but Blanco’s single moved him home.
Matt Cain didn’t factor into the final decision, but he did pitch seven very efficient innings. He walked just one, struck out five and allowed one run (two runs total, one unearned) on six hits. Three defensive miscues resulted in a Dodgers run during the second inning. Cain was a part of that. He threw a ball into center field, allowing the runner to advance to third–he eventually scored.
Cain’s other blemish came in his final inning. Yasiel Puig lined Cain’s misplaced fastball into the left center field gap, plating one run.
Pence hit his 21st homer of the year in the second, adding to what is shaping up to be a good year for the impending free agent.