The Dodgers Come Home, but Their Offense is Still On the Road

Dodgers 1 5 0

Giants 2 6 1

WP- Bumgarner (14-7)

LP- Kershaw (11-7)

S- Lopez (2)

HR- Ramirez (19)

The much anticipated showdown between the Dodgers and Giants began with a pitcher’s duel in game one. Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner each pitched 8 innings, and both lefties struck out ten batters while walking none. The difference maker was the offense. The Dodgers had none. They had but five hits. Two of which came off the bat of Clayton Kershaw, two from Luis Cruz, and one Hanley homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning. If you remember, the Dodgers struggled in their last homestand before this past successful road trip. Now they come home, and they leave off right where they had been. Pablo Sandoval batted in both runs for San Francisco, and Angel Pagan scored both of the runs.

Angel Pagan leads off the game against Clayton Kershaw with a double to left field. Marco Scutaro bunts Pagan over to third. The Giants score early as Pagan tags up and crosses home plate on a Pablo Sandoval fly ball to left. Buster Posey strikes out looking for the third out, but the Giants strike first.

Madison Bumgarner goes to work against the home team in the bottom of the first. Shane Victorino hits a deep fly ball to left, but Gregor Blanco catches it right up against the wall for the first out. Mark Ellis strikes out swinging. Matt Kemp hits a long fly ball to center, but it’s just a long out as the Dodgers go down in order.

Hunter Pence leads off the second inning, and it’s the first time the Dodgers have faced him as a Giant. He pops out. Joaquin Arias and Brandon Belt both make out as Kersh sends the Giants down in order.

Hanley Ramirez flies out to begin the bottom half of the second inning. Andre Ethier strikes out. Bumgarner hits Juan Rivera with a pitch in the

foot. Luis Cruz comes up with a two-out line drive base hit, and Rivera ends up at third. A.J. Ellis strikes out, and the Dodgers come up empty.

In the third, Kersh makes a great diving catch of Blanco’s bunt in foul territory. Kersh, the Gold Glover, can do it all! Bumgarner grounds out to Cochito Cruz, and Pagan strikes out. Another 1-2-3 inning by Kersh.

Clayton Kershaw, who is good at everything baseball, leads off with a single up the middle. He now has a four-game hitting streak. Victorino hits into a force out, and while Mark Ellis is at bat Shane is caught stealing for the second out. Mark Ellis strikes out, and once again the Dodgers end an inning with a whiff.

In the fourth, Scutaro leads off with a single. The Panda grounds into a double play. Luis Cruz makes a fantastic diving stop to rob Buster Posey of a hit for the third out. There’s absolutely no reason Cruz shouldn’t be starting at third base every game now.

Kemp grounds out,  and Hanley and Dre both strike out to end the fourth.

Kershaw sends the Giants down 1-2-3 again in the fifth including a Belt strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth, Cruz comes up with his second hit of the night with a one-out single. A. J. strikes out again, and Cruz is thrown out at second on what may have been a busted hit and run play.

Kershaw whiffs Blanco to start off the sixth. He strikes out Bumgarner as well. Angel Pagan slides into first base head first to beat out Hanley’s throw on his grounder to short. That could have easily been scored an error on Hanley. Scutaro singles right past Hanley, and Pablo follows up with the third consecutive single for San Francisco. Pagan crosses the plate on a close play, and the Giants tack on another run to the score. 2-0 Giants. Posey strikes out to end the inning.

Kershaw leads off the bottom of the sixth with a single. That’s his second hit of the night, and he is now hitting .244 on the year. Victorino grounds into a force out, and Mark Ellis lines out to Pence. With The Bison at the plate, Victorino steals second and third. Matt Kemp, who is struggling with the bat of late, strikes out to strand Victorino at third.

Arias singles with one-out in the seventh. Kershaw strikes out both Belt and Blanco each for the second time.

Sandoval boots the grounder hit by Ethier, and Dre reaches safely on the error. Rivera pops out. Cruz flies out, and they fail to score again.

In the eighth, Kershaw strikes out Bumgarner and Pagan. Scutaro grounds out to end the easy 1-2-3 frame. A.J. Ellis is robbed by Scutaro as he goes up the ladder to spear the line drive. Juan Uribe, pinch-hitting for Kershaw, predictably strikes out. Victorino strikes out.

Clayton Kershaw pitched 8 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, no walks, and 10 strikeouts on 109 pitches.

Ronald Belisario comes out of the Dodger bullpen to relieve Clayton Kershaw for the top of the ninth. Beli whiffs Sandoval, Posey, and Pence! Thirteen Giants have been fanned tonight, but they are still in the lead.

Madison Bumgarner pitched 8 innings, allowing 4 hits, no runs, no walks, and 10 strikeouts on 123 pitches.

Sergio Romo, a.k.a. Blackbeard Jr., is in to try to close shop on the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mark Ellis strikes out for the third time. Matt Kemp grounds out. He’s now 0-for-19. Hanley Ramirez comes up and dashes the Giants hope of a shutout by crushing his 19th homerun of the season! It’s only a solo shot, so the Dodgers are still down 2-1. Bruce Bochy goes to the pen again to bring in Javier Lopez to pitch to Andre Ethier. Dre grounds out to first to end the game.

The Dodgers are now 67-56, and the Giants once again reclaim first place. The Dodgers are 1/2 game back as the seesaw for first place continues.

Well, tomorrow evening will be the opposite of tonight. It won’t be a pitcher’s duel as Joe Blanton is set to face Tim Lincecum at 7:10 pm. Can the Dodger offense wake up? Why are they doing so poorly at home? Tell us what you think in the comments below.