Dodgers blow early lead to cap lost weekend in San Francisco

The Dodgers head home after an incredibly frustrating weekend in San Francisco, one that saw them drop three of four games to the Giants, including Sunday's 9-6 disappointment.

The three losses were in games that included taking a no-hitter and 2-0 lead into the eighth inning, plus games with leads of 4-0 and 5-0.

That 5-0 lead came in the first inning on Sunday, a five-hit rally against Johnny Cueto in his first home start as a Giant.

But Scott Kazmir slowly and surely gave that lead back. A two-run first inning chipped into the Dodgers' advantage, then home runs by Buster Posey and Brandon Belt tied the game in the third inning.

After the Dodgers grabbed the lead again with a run in the top of the fourth, Angel Pagan homered to lead off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to tie things up.

Kazmir was done after four innings, allowing six runs, and the first Dodgers starter to allow three home runs to the Giants since Kazuhisa Ishii on Oct. 3, 2004. He was the first one to do so in San Francisco since Ismael Valdes at Candlestick Park on June 20, 1997.

Cueto, like Kazmir, allowed six runs, but was incredibly effective after the first frame. Cueto lasted seven innings and struck out eight.

He also got the win, thanks to a three-run rally in the sixth inning, beginning with a double off Louis Coleman, a single and a double off J.P. Howell for two runs, then a sacrifice fly against Yimi Garcia for the final margin.

Opposing batters are 6-for-9 with a double this season against Howell, who in an incredibly small sample size is averaging two mph slower on his sinker than in 2015, per Brooks Baseball.

The Giants bullpen in the four-game series allowed four runs on 10 hits in 14 innings, with four walks and eight strikeouts.

The Dodgers bullpen in San Francisco allowed 12 runs on 15 hits in 10⅔ innings, with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Up next

The Dodgers will get home Sunday night then are off Monday, followed by Tuesday afternoon's home opener against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. a Kenta Maeda makes his second major league start, opposed by left-hander Patrick Corbin for Arizona.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: Buster Posey (2), Brandon Belt (1), Angel Pagan (1)

WP - Johnny Cueto (2-0): 7 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts

LP - Louis Coleman (0-1): 1+ IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks

Sv - Santiago Casilla (2): 1 IP 1 strikeout