Giants play home run derby to beat Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- The Giants used the long ball against Paul Maholm and the Dodgers on Saturday, providing more than enough support for Madison Bumgarner and sending Los Angeles to a 7-2 defeat before 49,520 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers have lost seven of their last eight games against the Giants, dating back to last season, including each of their last four meetings at Dodger Stadium.

Pablo Sandoval dealt the big blow, a three-run shot to left field off Maholm in the fifth inning to break open a one-run game. It was the second home run allowed by Maholm in the game, and ended his day after just 4⅓ innings.

Buster Posey followed with a solo shot against relief pitcher Jose Dominguez, working his second straight day after pitching two scoreless frames on Friday. The Dodgers allowed three home runs in a game at Dodger Stadium five times in 2013. The last time they allowed more was on August 26, 2012, when Giancarlo Stanton, Rob Brantley, Carlos Lee and Jose Reyes all went deep for the Marlins.

Maholm, who switched uniform numbers from 46 to 47, in his last three starts against the Giants — one start each in 2012, 2013 and now 2014 — has allowed 15 runs on 23 hits in just 14 innings, with seven walks and eight strikeouts.

Bumgarner has allowed two or fewer earned run in seven of his eight career starts in Los Angeles, including each of the last five outings. He struck out 10 with one walk while pitching into the seventh on Saturday. In Los Angeles the left-hander is 6-2 with a 1.98 ERA with 46 strikeouts against eight walks in 54⅔ innings.

The Giants scored first thanks to their trio of successive Brandons in the second inning. After Brandon Belt and Brandon Hicks singled to load the bases with one out against Paul Maholm, Brandon Crawford — introduced later by guest public address announcer Jason Bateman as "another Crawford ... Brandon" — grounded out to second for an RBI.

Scott Van Slyke walked and scored from first on Juan Uribe's double in the bottom of the second to tie the game. It was the team-best fourth double of the season for Uribe, hitting .345 (10-for-29) in the early going.

The Dodgers offense showed its most life in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out, down 7-1. After Yasiel Puig flew out softly to right field, pinch-hitter Andre Ethier singled to right for a run. The hit nearly scored two runs but A.J. Ellis was thrown out at the plate by Hunter Pence, a call that was confirmed by instant replay.

It was the Dodgers' first replay challenge of the season, but safe or out the decision by third base coach Lorenzo Bundy to send a catcher home, down five runs with Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp the next three hitters, was a questionable one.

Pence at the plate was 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles on Saturday. In his last five games at Dodger Stadium he is 10-for-26 (.385) with home runs and those doubles.

Up next

The Dodgers are on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for a second consecutive week in the series finale. A pair of 2002 first-round draft picks take the mound on Sunday, with No. 6 pick Zack Greinke facing No. 25 pick Matt Cain.

Lupe Fiasco will perform before Sunday night's game, and Mary Hart will be Sunday's fill-in public address announcer.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Michael Morse (1), Pablo Sandoval (1), Buster Posey (2)

WP - Madison Bumgarner (1-0): 6⅓ IP, 8 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts

LP -  Paul Maholm (0-1): 4⅓ IP, 7 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout