Dodgers winning plans interfered with

Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner each pitched well, but weren't around to see the ending, which was too painful for the Dodgers, 3-2 losers to the Giants on Wednesday night at AT&T Park.

One play after Giants third base coach Roberto Kelly physically stopped pinch-runner Gregor Blanco rounding third base, Joe Panik hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to center field with the bases loaded to give San Francisco a second straight win.

On a night that saw Kershaw pick off Norichika Aoki but not get the out because Justin Turner at first base literally started running toward the runner only to miss the tag, it was fitting the game would end in bizarre fashion.

After allowing a one-out single to Buster Posey in the ninth inning, Chris Hatcher hit Justin Maxwell with a pitch that did more physical harm to the Dodgers than the Giants. The pitch not only hit Maxwell, but ricocheted to hit catcher A.J. Ellis in both the face mask and right hand.

Ellis tried to make a few warmup throws to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez but both were well off target, then was removed from the game by trainer Stan Conte.

Brandon Belt singled to left field to load the bases but as Blanco, pinch running for Posey, rounded third he was physically contacted and stopped by Kelly, which manager Don Mattingly argued was a violation of MLB Rule 7.09(h):

It is interference by a batter or runner when in the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base.

Mattingly did not win his argument.

Kershaw allowed all of four runners to reach base all night, but unfortunately three of those were grouped together in the third inning. A ground ball to deep shortstop and a single just in front of a diving Chris Heisey in center field plated two runs, and for a while it looked like Bumgarner would make it hold up.

The Dodgers had some hard-hit balls against Bumgarner but nothing to show for it in six innings. After a one-out single by A.J. Ellis in the seventh, down 2-0 Mattingly had to pinch hit for Kershaw, ending a streak of 12 straight starts against the Giants pitching at least seven innings. The decision paid off in spades, however, because Alex Guerrero remains red hot.

Guerrero took a rising fastball from Bumgarner and made sure it kept rising, into the left field seats for a game-tying two-run home run. It was the third home run and fifth extra-base hit of the year for Guerrero, in just 17 plate appearances.

Guerrero has two pinch-hit home runs on the season, most by a Dodger since Marcus Thames in 2011. Guerrero is 3-for-6 with two home runs and a double in pinch-hitting duties this season, while other Dodgers are 0-for-14 with a walk in the role.

Up next

The Dodgers try to avoid the sweep on Thursday afternoon, a 12:45 p.m. PT start, with Mike Bolsinger on the mound in the series finale. The Giants will counter with Ryan Vogelsong, making his first start since April 7.

Wednesday particulars

Home run: Alex Guerrero (3)

WP - Santiago Casilla (1-0): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

LP - Chris Hatcher (0-2): 1⅓ IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 strikeout