The Los Angeles Dodgers captured their first home series victory of the year Thursday night by defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2. Going into the seventh inning down by two, the Dodgers managed to score five runs, ignited by an RBI single by pitch-hitter Justin Turner.
The Dodgers tacked tack on four more runs thanks to RBI hits by Kiké Hernandez, Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez. Kenley Jansen shut the door in the ninth for his second consecutive save.
Los Angeles now hosts the San Francisco Giants for a three game set beginning Friday night with the opener.
Friday not only marks the rematch of left-handed aces Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner, but it’s also Jackie Robinson day. As such, every player is wearing Robinson’s iconic No. 42. As for the two aces, the Dodgers won the previous meeting in extra innings, with neither starter taking the win or loss.
Kershaw went eight strong innings while allowing two runs on four hits and five strikeouts to a deep Giants lineup. Bumgarner answered with a six-inning performance while allowing one run with eight strikeouts. Bumgarner also clubbed a second career home run off Kershaw.
In the eight times the lefties have faced each other, both pitchers have lived up to their reputations. Kershaw is gone 2-4 with a 2.14 ERA in 59 innings in the matchups, while Bumgarner has a 4-2 record with a 2.45 ERA in 51.1 innings.
Kershaw has dominated a few key Giant hitters in the past, including Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence. Belt carries a .075 batting average with 22 strikeouts in 40 at-bats against the lefty. Pence has not faired much better, as he’s a .086 lifetime hitter with 16 strikeouts in 58 at-bats.
The Dodgers may have caught the Giants at the right time as they come in having lost two out of their last three games to the Colorado Rockies; the Giants were outscored 21-12 in the series. To make matters worse, the Giants will be without starting shortstop Brandon Crawford, who left Thursday’s game in the seventh inning after his left hip flexor flared up.
Buster Posey also left Thursday’s game for precautionary measures after missing the two previous games with a sore right foot. Posey is in the starting lineup for the series opener as he will hit third and catch. What’s more, San Francisco placed Sergio Romo and Ehire Adrianza on the 15-day disabled list, and recalled reliever Derek Law and Mac Williamson from Triple-A Sacramento.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers stack their lineup with right-handed batters, leaving Adrian Gonzalez as the lone left-handed hitter. Kiké Hernandez starts in left field and leads off, with Trayce Thompson starting in center and Yasiel Puig in right.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Howie Kendrick
CF: Trayce Thompson
C: A.J. Ellis
SS: Charlie Culberson
P: Clayton Kershaw
Giants lineup:
LF: Angel Pagan
2B: Joe Panik
C: Buster Posey
RF: Hunter Pence
1B: Brandon Belt
3B: Matt Duffy
SS: Kelby Tomlinson
P: Madison Bumgarner
CF: Gregor Blanco
