The Dodgers bullpen blew the game in the bottom of the ninth for the second consecutive day and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Thursday afternoon to complete the sweep of their rivals.
Justin Maxwell hit a walk off double in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Dodgers were swept in San Francisco for the first time since May of 2013, and now have their first three-game losing streak of the season.
"I go into every at-bat looking to hit the ball hard. I was ready to hit," said Maxwell of his walk-off single. "Winning is fun."
Alex Guerrero got the start at third base and went 2 for 3 with a home run putting even more pressure on Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to find more playing time for the Cuban slugger.
"He's swinging the bat good," said Mattingly. "We [the organization] have been talking about him a lot lately."
Guerrero is batting .474 with four homers and 12 RBIs for the Dodgers this season.
Adrian Gonzalez who had been hitless in his last 10 at-bats hit a fastball to dead center in the top of the third inning for his sixth homer of the season.
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The Dodgers called up pitcher Mike Bolsinger before the game in their carousal of spot starters through the first few weeks of the season. Previously David Huff had been called up to start against the Mariners, and Bolsinger was called up today.
Bolsinger was the reigning PCL Player of the week and had not allowed a run in 11 innings at Triple-A Oklahoma City coming into the game.
Bolsinger was brilliant in his Dodgers debut allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Bolsinger may have cemented his spot in the Dodgers rotation, at least for the time being as Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to be out at least until June with a shoulder injury.
"When Buster Posey was up in my last inning and you hear all the chants, it gets you fired up," said Bolsinger about playing in the rivalry. "I think I can pitch at this level, but whatever happens, happens."
Ryan Vogelsong got the start for San Francisco and other than the two solo home runs to Guerrero and Gonzalez, was equally impressive surrendering two runs on just three hits with five strikeouts over 6 innings.
The Giants threatened in the bottom half of the 8th inning after loading the bases for Maxwell who hit a line drive up the middle but Howie Kendrick made a game-saving play diving to his right to rob Maxwell.
"Howie has been amazing all year long, he made a great play," said Mattingly of Kendrick's diving catch. "At that point in the game, in that situation, it was a great play to end the inning and keep the game 2-1."
Pedro Baez blew the save for the Dodgers giving up a single and a triple in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 2-2. Juan Nicasio (0-1) was brought in to keep the game level in the bottom of the 10th, but a leadoff single to Angel Pagan who eventually stole second and the hit to Maxwell did him in.
"We're asking a lot of different guys to pitch late in games – this is what we knew we would be in for coming out of spring training without Kenley [Jansen]," said Mattingly of his bullpen. "I think our guys are doing a good job, would I like to have Kenley back? No doubt."
Santiago Casilla (2-0) pitched a scoreless 10th for his second win of the season and the Giants fourth victory in their last five games after an eight-game losing streak. The Dodgers came into the rivalry series riding a seven-game win streak of their own.
"This shows you what this year is going to be, how this division is going to be," added Mattingly. "Buckle up."
Game Notes:
Andre Ethier made an appearance as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning and was hit by a pitch. It was Ethier's 1289th appearance for the Dodgers, tied for ninth all-time.
