Giants Beat Dodgers 3-1, Gain Split Of Season-Opening Series
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mauricio Dubon singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Sunday night.
The Giants gained a split of the four-game series under new manager Gabe Kapler to open the shortened season after the Dodgers took the first two.
The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the eighth, including the potential tying and go-ahead runs, after Kiké Hernández grounded out. Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger had back-to-back singles, the team's first consecutive hits in the game.
In the ninth, Los Angeles had the potential tying run at the plate when Trevor Gott struck out Max Muncy for his first save.
Donovan Solano led off the sixth with an infield single. He went to second on pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval's single and scored on Dubon's single to left field that snapped an 0-for-10 skid, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead.
San Francisco added a run in the seventh on Solano's RBI single that scored Darin Ruf, who walked and stole second. Dubon had a hand in two of the team's three runs.
Ruf moved from first base to left field in the sixth and caught Corey Seager's fly while running into the Dodgers' bullpen gate and forcing it open. In the third, Ruf's RBI single made it 1-0.
The Dodgers tied the game 1-all in the third on Bellinger's first RBI of the season, a two-out single on the first pitch from Drew Smyly.
Wandy Peralta (1-0) got the win with one scoreless inning of relief.
Brusdar Graterol (0-1) took the loss, allowing two hits and one run in one-third of an inning.
Smyly gave up one run and four hits in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Dodgers starter Julio Urías permitted one run and five hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked three.
Kenley Jansen retired the side in the ninth in his season debut for the Dodgers.
COY KAPLER
Kapler didn't reveal his starter for either the second or third game of the series until hours beforehand. It wasn't until the series finale on Sunday that starter Smyly's name was released well before game time. Even more of a mystery is Jeff Samardzija, who has yet to appear in a game despite being the projected No. 2 starter. The 35-year-old right-hander was 11-12 with a 3.52 ERA last year. Kapler would only say that "everything is fine" with Samardzija and described him as "one of our best starters."
GOOD NEWS
Dodgers minor leaguer Connor Joe is cancer-free after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in March, his agent John Boggs tweeted Sunday. The 27-year-old was a non-roster invitee to spring training in Arizona when he found out. Joe had 15 plate appearances for the Giants last year, with one hit and one run. He batted .067. With the Dodgers' Triple-A team, he hit .300 with a .929 OPS, 15 home runs and 68 RBIs.
IN YOUR FACE
Dodgers fan Austin Donley of Hermosa Beach is keeping an eye on his mail after his cardboard cutout nearly got decapitated by Will Smith's home run. Donley and his father bought cutouts in the new home run seats in the left field pavilion for $299 each since fans aren't allowed at games. Donley tweeted at Smith on Saturday and asked if he got to keep the ball. "Sorry I took your head off," Smith replied, using three joy emojis while asking Donley to reach out to him so he could "hook it up for you."
GOING HOME
AJ Pollock was away from the Dodgers on Saturday for a special reason. He and wife Kate took their daughter Maddi home after she spent 128 days in the hospital. She arrived three months early and weighed 22 ounces. Pollock posted a photo of the trio on his Instagram account. He was in the lineup as the DH on Sunday. Manager Dave Roberts said the team didn't reveal Pollock's absence for competitive reasons.
REMOTE ANTHEM
Six of the Giants kneeled for the national anthem, including Jaylin Davis, Dubon, Hunter Pence and Mike Yastrzemski. No one from the Dodgers kneeled for the video performance by 9-year-old Malea Emma.
UP NEXT
The Giants host San Diego in their home opener Tuesday. The Dodgers travel to Houston to play the Astros on Tuesday in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2017 World Series, except without fans. RHP Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers, who have not forgotten the illegal sign-stealing committed by the Astros three years ago.