Another Day, Another 1-Run Game For San Francisco Giants; Beat Dodgers 2-1
By Phil Watson
Apr 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco Giants have played six straight one-run games, winning four of them, including taking a 2-1 decision Wednesday over the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park.
Pablo Sandoval drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Giants (10-5) moved back into first place in the NL West (sorry, no magic numbers in April) while also clinching a series win over L.A. (9-6).
Ryan Vogelsong didn’t get a decision, but had by far his strongest outing of the season, allowing a run on four hits and two walks in six-plus innings, striking out two. He came in having allowed eight runs in nine innings over his first two starts, allowing 14 hits and posting a rugged 1.889 WHIP.
Wednesday’s effort dropped his ERA from 8.00 to 5.40.
The Giants took the lead back in the seventh against reliever J.P. Howell (1-1). Joaquin Arias led off the inning with a walk and pinch-hitter Ehire Adrianza sacrificed him to second.
After a strikeout and an intentional walk to Hunter Pence, Sandoval grounded a single up the middle to chase Arias home and give San Francisco a 2-1 lead.
The bullpen made sure that lead stood up. Santiago Casilla allowed a hit while getting two outs in the eighth, Javier Lopez came in to retire lefty-swinging Carl Crawford to end the eighth and Sergio Romo picked up his fourth save, striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Jean Machi (3-0) got the win, allowing a hit and striking out one in the seventh after taking over for Vogelsong.
San Francisco got their only run off Dodgers starter Paul Maholm in the bottom of the third. Pagan walked to lead off the inning and was forced at second on a grounder by Pence. Sandoval singled up the middle to move Pence to second and Buster Posey delivered a groundball single to left field that scored Pence.
L.A. finally got to Vogelsong in the sixth, when he walked his opposite number, Maholm, with two outs before Dee Gordon blasted a triple to the wall in right-center.
Vogelsong came out after starting out the seventh by hitting Hanley Ramirez and allowing a single to Adrian Gonzalez. Ramirez had to come out of the game after being hit on the left hand. According to the Dodgers, X-rays on the hand were negative.
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was held out of the lineup Wednesday with tightness in his right hamstring, according to MLB.com. Arias started in Crawford’s place.
The Giants will go for the sweep Thursday at 12:45 p.m., with Madison Bumgarner (2-0, 3.31 ERA) scheduled to face Hyun-Jin Ryu.