Giants answer rally, down Dodgers in 10

Panik, Posey cap surge against closer Jansen

SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey struggled in his first few at-bats Saturday, so he switched a different bat for his final plate appearance.

The move worked for the Giants’ catcher as he had the game-winning hit that gave San Francisco a little more breathing room in the National League West.

Joe Panik hit a game-tying single off Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen with one out in the 10th inning and scored on Posey’s RBI single, and the Giants beat the Dodgers 5-4.

“It’s a big one,” Posey said of his fourth career game-ending hit. “I know my numbers aren’t great, but I feel like I’m still doing a decent job of making pretty consistent contact.

“I have to tell myself if I consistently square the ball up, that’s all I can do.”

Adrian Gonzalez homered leading off the 10th to put the Dodgers up 4-3 before the Giants rallied to win with four consecutive hits off Jansen (2-2).

Denard Span started the comeback with a one-out double. Panik singled in Span to tie the game, and Brandon Belt followed with a bloop single to right.

Posey then lined an 0-and-1 pitch to left-center as Panik scored easily.

Chris Stratton, the ninth pitcher used by Giants manager Bruce Bochy, retired three batters for his first major league win.

“I put it near the top, if not at the top,” Bochy said of the win that moved the division-leading Giants four games up on the Dodgers in the West.

Gonzalez, Justin Turner and Trayce Thompson had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who lost for the third time in five games.

“Kenley has been great for us, and you can’t expect him to be perfect,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s a team we’re chasing, and we had a chance to gain ground.”

Both teams were forced to go deep into their bullpens after starters Jeff Samardzija of San Francisco and Scott Kazmir of Los Angeles struggled.

The Giants took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Panik scored on Matt Duffy’s fielder’s-choice grounder when Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley’s throw to first base was off target.

Thompson, whose older brother Klay was in attendance one day after helping the Golden State Warriors win Game 4 of the NBA Finals, tied it with a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

Duffy and Brandon Crawford each singled in runs for San Francisco in the first.

Kazmir pitched into the sixth and allowed three runs. Samardzija allowed two runs and seven hits in a season-low 4 2/3 innings.

BEN MARGOT/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Joe Panik, right, celebrates with Giants teammate Matt Duffy after scoring the winning run in San Francisco’s 5-4, 10-inning victory over the Dodgers on Saturday at AT&T Park.