Giants Rally in 9th for 2nd Straight Night to Beat Dodgers
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- LaMonte Wade Jr. broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run single and the San Francisco Giants rallied against closer Kenley Jansen again for a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.
The Giants trailed 3-1 going into the ninth before scoring four times to extend their lead in the NL West to three games over the defending World Series champions. San Francisco took three of four in a tense series between the longtime rivals.
Wilmer Flores, who hit a go-ahead homer off Jansen on Wednesday, started the rally with a one-out single and advanced to third when Donovan Solano lined a double off the wall in center field with two outs. Pinch-hitter Jason Vosler walked to load the bases.
Flores scored on Thairo Estrada's infield single, cutting it to 3-2, and the Giants tied it when Jansen walked Darin Ruf to force in a run.
Ruf checked his swing on a full-count pitch — although replays appeared to show he went around. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts threw his cap and argued vehemently, leading to him being ejected in the ninth inning for the second consecutive night.
Wade then hit a sinking liner to right field that dropped just in front of newly acquired Billy McKinney, giving San Francisco a 5-3 advantage. Jansen was lifted to a chorus of boos for the second straight night.
Jansen (1-4) fell to 21 for 26 in save opportunities. He has allowed seven runs on seven hits with four walks in one inning over the past two games.
José Álvarez (4-1) got the win and Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his 20th save.
Will Smith hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Walker Buehler allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings for the Dodgers.
The teams have a three-game series beginning Tuesday in San Francisco before playing their final series of the season Sept. 3-5.
The game was tied at 1 in the fourth when Smith drove a sinker from Anthony DeSclafani to center for his 13th of the season. It was the second time Smith went deep in the series. He hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the ninth inning Tuesday to give the Dodgers an 8-6 victory.
Buehler tied his season high by going 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine and allowed five hits. Buehler — who has a 2.05 career ERA against the Giants — has gone at least six innings in all but one of his last 22 starts dating to last season, including the postseason.
DeSclafani yielded two runs on six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the first when Wade scored on Mike Yastrzemski's sacrifice fly.
The Dodgers evened it in the first when the first three batters got base hits off DeSclafani, including Justin Turner's single to drive in Chris Taylor.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: 1B Brandon Belt (right knee inflammation) will begin running the bases this weekend. ... 2B Tommy La Stella (left hamstring strain, right thumb) went 2 for 2 and RHP Aaron Sanchez (right bicep tightness) allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings during rehab assignments at Triple-A Sacramento.
Dodgers: RHPs Corey Knebel (right lat strain) and Jimmy Nelson (back) both pitched an inning during a simulated game. Roberts said Nelson could be activated during this weekend's series against Colorado, while Knebel could go out on a rehab assignment next week.
UP NEXT
Giants: Begin a nine-game homestand Friday against Pittsburgh. RHP Johnny Cueto (6-5, 4.01 ERA) has gone 0-2 in his last three starts and will be opposed by Pirates RHP Chad Kuhl (3-5, 4.31.
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