The Dodgers and Giants were even at 1-1 after nine innings, and the Dodgers went ahead with a run in the 10th but Jonathan Broxton gave up two runs in the bottom half to take the loss.
The Dodgers were held to one run through nine innings, but that run was enough to take the Dodgers into extra innings. Hiroki Kuroda added some offense to his phenominal pitching performance, singling in Manny in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Jeff Kent then drove the go-ahead solo homerun in the 10th before the Dodgers lost it in the bottom half.
Kuroda looked fantastic through eight, giving up just one run on eight hits. His RBI-single in the second made up for his run given up and allowed the Dodgers a chance to win it in extras after he finished his run by escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Hong-Chih Kuo kept the Giants from scoring in the ninth and Jonathan Broxton came on in the 10th with a save opportunity on a one-run lead. Broxton gave up a leadoff double to Dave Roberts, who scored when Broxton tried to get him out at home off a groundball. Roberts was safe after the ball dribbled to the backstop, putting the winning run on third. Aaron Rowand then singled for the walk-off win. The blown save is Broxton’s sixth, but it is just his first since taking on the new role as closer.
The Dodgers lost their chance to tie Arizona atop the division, but they can move on top today with a win and an Arizona loss. Chad Billingsley will take the mound and face Matt Cain, who hasn’t given up more than one run in his last three starts. Billingsley shoots for his 12th win, and a quality outing could lower his ERA under 3.
