Dodgers blanked again by Giants

The Dodgers continued to beat their head against the brick wall that is the San Francisco Giants, with the latest frustrating affair a 4-0 defeat on Wednesday night at AT&T Park.

Buster Posey doubled and hit a two-run home run, and Brandon Crawford went 3-for-4, driving in Posey for the Giants' first run. Crawford is hitting .435 (10-for-23) against the Dodgers this season.

For a while that first run, a two-out single to score Posey from third base, looked like it might hold up. Tim Lincecum pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out four, wiggling in and out of the occasional jam.

Lincecum has pitched three straight scoreless starts at home, and has a 22-inning scoreless streak at AT&T Park dating back to April 21.

The Dodgers haven't scored a run in San Francisco since April 23, a scoreless span of 25 straight innings, falling to 0-5 against the Giants on the road this season, and 2-6 overall.

The Dodgers offensive malaise has stretched back to Saturday, scoring two total runs in their last four games.

During that stretch, which includes no runs in their last 22 innings, the Dodgers are 1-for-20 with runners in scoring position. But even more problematic is that they are hitting just .156/.239/.197 overall during that span.

The Dodgers are 1-for-25 with runners in scoring position in their five San Francisco games this season, including no hits in their last 21 at-bats in those situations on the road against the Giants.

Brett Anderson was sharp again, striking out seven while inducing 11 ground ball outs. He allowed one run through six then pitched into the seventh inning, but reached the end of his rope, allowing two more runs, leaving after a season-high 109 pitches.

Posey's home run was off Yimi Garcia, his third home run allowed in his last five outings.

If there was any sort of offensive highlight for the Dodgers, maybe it was a walk by Anderson in the fifth inning. It was the fourth walk of the season by Anderson, more than pitchers on each of the other 29 teams in baseball. The Dodgers have nine walks by their pitchers this season.

Up next

Clayton Kershaw gets to be the next Dodgers pitcher to suffer an existential crisis, wondering if he even matters in the series finale on Thursday afternoon, a 12:45 p.m. PT start. Madison Bumgarner starts for San Francisco, so be prepared to be angry at the Dodgers' starting lineup.

Wednesday particulars

Home run: Buster Posey (7)

WP - Tim Lincecum (4-2): 7 IP, 3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

LP - Brett Anderson (2-2): 6⅓ IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts