While the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse may have been surprised by the organization’s decision to trade A.J. Ellis, there was a game to be played Thursday night against the San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles entered with a three-game lead in the National League West and an opportunity to complete a series sweep.
Ross Stripling worked around a one-out single to throw a scoreless opening frame. Matt Moore started the bottom of the first with a three-pitch strikeout of Kiké Hernandez, then retired Howie Kendrick and Corey Seager.
Brandon Crawford led off the second with a double to right-center field, and Joe Panik was intentionally walked to put two on with two outs. Moore was unable to help himself, grounding out to end the inning.
Yasmani Grandal worked a two-out walk in the bottom half of the second, but the Dodgers weren’t able to capitalize as Rob Segedin grounded to third base.
Stripling pitched around a two-out Buster Posey single in the third to keep the game locked in a scoreless tie. The Dodgers continued to scuttle at the plate in the bottom of the inning, with Charlie Culberson and Stripling striking out, and Hernandez lining out.
Crawford led off the fourth with a base hit and moved into scoring position on a high comebacker that Stripling jumped into the air to knock down, but only had a play at first base after recovering.
Stripling’s inability to get the lead runner cost him as Brandon Belt pulled an RBI single into right field. Panik followed with a home run, extending the Giants’ lead to 3-0 before Stripling managed to get out of the inning.
Moore continued to sail through the game, retiring the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the fourth. Posey doubled on a drive to center field that turned Hernandez around multiple times before he crashed into the fence while attempting to make a catch.
San Francisco didn’t build on the extra-base hit, as Stripling retired Hunter Pence and Crawford. With Grant Dayton on to pitch the sixth, a two-out walk wound up leading to a run, albeit unearned.
Moore hit a jam-shot toward third base that Justin Turner failed to make a barehanded play on. Denard Span followed with an RBI single, and the Giants’ lead grew to 4-0. Meanwhile, Moore walked Seager with one out, but got through the seventh with his no-hitter still intact.
Moore issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth and labored a bit before getting out of the inning without allowing a hit. Already at 119 pitches, Moore was back on the mound in the ninth.
He received some help from Span, who made a sliding catch to rob Hernandez of a leadoff single. Moore retired Kendrick but lost his no-hitter on Seager’s flare single to right field. Santiago Casilla came on in relief and threw one pitch to finish the Giants’ 4-0 win.
