Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Dodgers overcome homer by Bumgarner, top Giants
Aces solid in Los Angeles’ 10-inning victory
SAN FRANCISCO — In another drama-filled, rainy extra-inning game, the Los Angeles Dodgers got right back into their first series with the San Francisco Giants as these clubs seek supremacy in the National League West come September — and ace Clayton Kershaw didn’t even factor into the outcome this time.
Madison Bumgarner homered off his fellow ace lefty once again on a day both dazzled on the mound, yet neither had a decision to show for it in the Dodgers’ 3-2, 10-inning win Saturday that gave Los Angeles a chance to split the four-game set.
And that’s a big difference from trying to avoid a sweep.
“It does a lot,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Sometimes you go and expect every time Clayton takes the mound that you’re going to win, but they had a good guy over there as well.
“… We have a chance to split the series on the road against a very good ballclub, but I just like our energy even today before the game. We came in, we were confident, we were loose. “
Charlie Culberson hit a goahead RBI double in the 10th for the Dodgers.
Chris Hatcher (1-0) retired pinch hitter Joe Panik on a called third strike to send the game into extras, and then Kenley Jansen finished for his second save. The Dodgers were on the other side of a 3-2 result in 10 innings a night earlier.
Bumgarner struck out eight and Kershaw had five Ks in his eight innings for another impressive duel between these two that are becoming all too common.
Kershaw surrendered Bumgarner’s homer in the second inning, MadBum’s second in two seasons against his division rival.
“I think I got it in there, maybe it was probably over the plate a little too much. He hit it pretty good,” Kershaw said. “Any time you give up a home run to the pitcher, it doesn’t feel good. It’s supposed to be the easiest out you have.
“He’s a little different, obviously. He’s a pretty solid hitter. You don’t want to give up a hit to a pitcher let alone a home run.”
Bumgarner sent a 1-and1 pitch into the left-field bleachers but gave back that run in the third, allowing three singles before hitting Scott Van Slyke with a pitch to force home a run.
Van Slyke was lifted for pinch runner Joc Pederson because of lower back tightness.
Bumgarner’s 12 career homers — two of those off Kershaw — matched Yovani Gallardo for most career home runs among active pitchers. The Giants ace allowed one run and six hits in six innings with one walk. Kershaw gave up four hits and two runs and walked one.
George Kontos (0-1) gave up a one-out double to Corey Seager before Culberson’s extra-base hit.
Adrian Gonzalez tied the game with an RBI groundout against Santiago Casilla with one out in the ninth. Second baseman Kelby Tomlinson bobbled the ball in a steady rain, eliminating his chance for a game-ending double play.
“It was awesome. Any time you can come back off a closer as good as he is and scratch one across in the 10th like that, you just keep grinding out at-bats,” Kershaw said.
Casilla was Friday’s winning pitcher with one out recorded. In this one, he allowed a walk, single and hit a batter in the ninth.
“We’re going against the best pitcher in baseball; we had the lead with the closer out there. That’s all you can ask for,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “This was one that got away from us today.”