The Dodgers took a 5-2 loss on Saturday but came back for a win on Sunday to take the series against the Giants. The series win and Dbacks slump now puts the Dodgers just 1/2 game behind Arizona for the division lead.
The Dodgers put up an early lead Saturday, and if it stood they could’ve been atop the division by the day’s end. The Giants ended up coming back with five runs of their own, and Barry Zito kept the Dodgers scoreless after the first, retiring 13 straight at one point, and fanned the Dodgers 10 times out of their 11 total for the game. The two lone runs in the first came off Andre Ethier’s RBI-double.
Chan Ho Park put up a great effort filling in for Brad Penny. He gave up just one run on three hits through six innings. He left with a 1-1 tie but the Dodger bullpen blew it and gave Park the no-decision. Joe Beimel gave up the go-ahead run before Falkenborg gave up three more to get the blown save and the loss.
The Dodgers came back to take the series on Sunday with the help of the bullpen and Brian Falkenborg, who evened his record by getting the win for the game.
The Dodgers put up one in the first off James Loney’s RBI-double to score Andre Ethier. The Giants tied it in the bottom half but the Dodgers put up two more in the third to take the lead, including a single by starter Eric Stults. They added two more in the fifth off another double by Loney. Ethier ended up 3 for 4 with 2 runs and Loney 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. Andruw Jones, who is 0 for 9 since his return, and Nomar both rested in today’s rubber match.
Eric Stults lasted just four innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits. After the bullpen blew Saturday’s game, they came back to hold the Giants to just one run as Falkenborg went on to take the win, his first of the season. Stults’ throwing error in the first gave up the unearned run before he gave up a solo homerun in the fourth. Falkenborg, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Jonathan Broxton combined for four scoreless innings. Saito gave up two hits and a run in the ninth but still earned the save.
The Dodgers have now won five of their last six, and remain 1/2 game back in the division following Arizona’s win today.
