Giants complete sweep of Dodgers; Rodon goes 6 strong innings in victory
SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Rodón pitched two-hit ball over six strong innings and the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game sweep of the division-leading Dodgers, beating Los Angeles 2-0 on Sunday.
Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski homered off Julio Urías in the first inning to send the stumbling Dodgers to their sixth loss in eight games.
Chris Taylor doubled twice for Los Angeles, but was forced out of the game after suffering a cut near his right eye when he crashed into the fence in left field trying to make a catch.
The Dodgers remained one-half game ahead of San Diego in the NL West. The Giants pulled within 3 ½ games of first place.
Before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called out his club's offense as being too inconsistent, a problem that has hindered the team since the final week of May.
Rodón (5-4) helped that trend continue with a dominant performance coming on the heels of one of his worst starts this season.
Mixing a fastball that topped out at 100 mph with an effective slider, Rodón had six strikeouts and pitched around three walks and a pair of leadoff doubles for his win in more than a month.
John Brebbia and Dominic Leone retired three batters apiece. Leone got Taylor to strike out swinging with runners at the corners and two outs in the eighth, then yelled and flexed his arms while walking off the mound.
Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his third save.
Urías (3-6 ) struck out 10 in six innings but remained winless since May 20. The Dodgers left-hander didn't walk a batter and set down 15 straight following Yastrzemski's home run with one out in the first.
Yastrzemski's home run came two batters after Slater's third career leadoff home run. Slater also made a running catch in right-center to take away a hit from Will Smith in the eighth.
REMEMBERING PERFECTION
The Giants held a pregame ceremony honoring the 10th anniversary of Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13, 2012, the first in franchise history. Cain watched as highlights of the game played on the video scoreboard, then threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former teammate Brandon Crawford.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Blake Treinen played catch and made more than 60 throws as he works his way back from an undisclosed shoulder injury. Roberts noted that Treinen was fatigued but pain free afterward.
Giants: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (right ankle inflammation) threw 41 pitches in three scoreless innings of a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday night.. … Curt Casali was held out because of a tight hamstring. 3B Evan Longoria, who flew out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, has also been slowed by a sore hamstring. … OF LaMonte Wade Jr. will have his left hamstring re-evaluated Monday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Following an off day, RHP Tony Gonsolin (7-0, 1.58 ERA) will pitch against the Angels on Tuesday. Gonsolin has had at least five strikeouts in each of his seven previous starts.
Giants: LHP Alex Wood (3-5, 4.23 ERA) faces the Royals on Monday. Wood has lost three straight decisions and five of the last six.