Defense not as advertised, Dodgers exposed on Madison Avenue in 3-0 loss to Giants

Two throwing errors by Justin Sellers in the seventh inning broke open a close game as the Dodgers fell to the Giants 3-0 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were simply no match for Madison Bumgarner, who allowed just two hits in eight scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Bumgarner, who out-dueled Clayton Kershaw last Aug. 20, has pitched 16 consecutive scoreless, walkless innings at Dodger Stadium, with 16 strikeouts and just six hits allowed. In between doubles by Andre Ethier in the second inning and A.J. Ellis in the eighth, Bumgarner retired 18 straight Dodgers.

Sellers is considered the strongest defensive shortstop in the organization and was tabbed as the regular shortstop specifically for his defense and in spite of his weak bat. Sellers, a .197/.275/.312 hitter in 57 career games, is hitless in six at-bats this season. But it was his two throws in the seventh inning Tuesday that turned a one-run affair into a three-run deficit that seemed insurmountable against Bumgarner.

Hyun-jin Ryu didn't walk anybody in his major league debut, but the Giants jumped on fastballs early in counts on their way to 10 hits against the left-hander. But Ryu was buoyed by his defense, at least at first.

Ryu allowed the first two batters to reach via singles in both the first and second innings, but in each frame was bailed out by a double play. The double play started with some terrific footwork by Luis Cruz in the second inning might have been a 5-4-3 triple play had someone slower than Andres Torres hit it.

Angel Pagan hit a single down the left field line in the third inning but Jerry Hairston Jr., starting in place of elbow surgery recoverer Carl Crawford in left field, not only got to the ball quickly but unleashed a strong throw to nab Pagan at second base, trying to stretch it into a double.

The Giants finally cashed in a run in the fourth inning with three straight singles. Joaquin Arias delivered a single to center field, the eighth hit of the game for San Francisco, to produce the game's first run.

Another double play got Ryu out of the fifth, then he retired the side in order in the sixth, his only 1-2-3 inning of the night. But the seventh began with Arias reaching base when Sellers threw wide to first base. One hit and one out later, Ryu was removed in favor of Ronald Belisario. Down 1-0 with the infield in and runners on second base third base, Bumgarner hit a soft bouncer to Sellers, but his throw home went to the backstop, allowing both runners to score.

Tuesday's particulars

HR: none

WP - Madison Bumgarner (1-0): 8 IP, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts

LP - Hyun-jin Ryu (0-1): 6⅓ IP, 10 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 0 walks, 5 strikeouts

Sv - Sergio Romo (1): 1 IP, 1 strikeout