Giants come back in ninth to beat Dodgers 7-5
Heated tempers flared throughout the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants game Tuesday night, adding to the already intense rivalry. The Giants walked away the victors from this game, beating the Dodgers 7-5, by coming back in the top of the ninth to claim the lead for the first time all night.
The 12 combined runs came on just 16 combined hits, and the scoring started early. In the bottom of the first, Dodgers left fielder Xavier Paul brought home Rafael Furcal with an RBI double after Furcal led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base. The next batter was Andre Ethier, who homered to right to jump the Dodgers out to an early 3-0 lead.
Giants' starting pitcher Tim Lincecum was disgusted with his control
"It just kind of fell out of my hand. I had it happen in spring training, too," Lincecum said. "I didn't find a rhythm, wasn't throwing enough strikes, wasn't throwing pitches where I needed to or even wanted to, which was frustrating."
In response, Pablo Sandoval drew a walk in the top of the second and was moved over to third when Juan Uribe doubled to right. That's when Edgar Renteria stepped up and grounded out, but Sandoval still made it home and cut the lead to two.
But in the bottom of the third, Giants' starting pitcher Lincecum let up two more runs. The first came on a Blake DeWitt single that scored Paul and moved Ethier over to third. Then, Casey Blake came up with an RBI double that scored Ethier. But that would be the end of the runs for Los Angeles, and Lincecum pitched scoreless ball for the next inning and two-thirds he was in.
The Giants finally came alive in the top of the sixth when Pat Burrell hit a sacrifice fly to score Freddy Sanchez. Burrell eventually reached due to an error by Paul. The next batter, Sandoval, doubled to left which scored Buster Posey and Burrell to make it a one-run game.
In the ninth, Broxton came on to close the game but had to leave because of a mental error by pitching coach Don Mattingly. Mattingly called on George Sherrill to come into the game, and gave up a two-run double to Andres Torres for the go ahead and eventual winning run.
The Dodgers' starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, was ejected in the seventh for hitting two batters in the game.
"Right now we're just kind of finding ways to lose," Kershaw said. "That's what happens when you're going bad."
Mattingly's mistake
The most disappointing part of the game may not have been that the Giants won, but possibly the fact that it was pitching coach Don Mattingly's fault.
In the top of the ninth, after All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton intentionally walked Aubrey Huff to load the bases with one out, Mattingly came out to discuss the situation. At this point, Mattingly was also the acting manager since both manager Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer had been tossed. While leaving the mound, Mattingly turned around to tell where James Loney should be playing at first. Problem was, Mattingly had already left the mound, and the conversation counted as a second visit.
"I kind of had a feeling [it was a second trip] because Adrian was yelling 'No, no, no. You can't go back,' as I turned to talk to James," he said. "It cost us a chance to win the game."
Manny Ramirez to DL
The left fielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a calf strain, his third time on the DL this season. Burrell has been filling in for him as of late, and has seven homers and 26 RBI on the season.
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