Dodgers' 4th time around undone after the 2nd time through the Giants' order

The Dodgers looked to continue frolicking through the National League West, and even built a 4-0 lead into the middle innings on Thursday, but then were unable to stop the Giants merry-go-round in a 12-6 loss at AT&T Park in San Francisco's home opener.

The Dodgers' 29-0 scoring run to open the season was a major league record, and was complemented by a near record streak of scoreless innings allowed when Alex Wood got through the first four innings without allowing a run on Thursday. That brought the Dodgers to 31 consecutive scoreless innings, just one shy of the major league record to begin a season, held by the 1963 Cardinals, the only other team to begin a campaign with three straight shutouts.

But a pair of singles followed by a soft ground ball put two runners in scoring position for San Francisco in the fifth inning, and brought Wood back to the top of the Giants' batting order for a third time.

Wood got the second out of the inning, a ground out that brought a run home, but then a triple by Joe Panik and a double by Buster Posey also brought home runs, cutting the lead to 4-3.

Despite the rough inning and pending third trip through the order, Wood was allowed to bat in the sixth inning, partially because he was only at 74 pitches through five.

Wood certainly didn't pitch badly in the bottom of the inning, but the two ground balls he allowed each found holes into the outfield, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base with nobody out. That brought a hook for Wood, who allowed San Francisco a treat the third time through the order, to the tune of 4-for-6 with a walk, a double and a triple.

Those two runners scored on a single by Angel Pagan, then hits by Panik and Posey widened the Dodgers' deficit to three runs.

A Joc Pederson home run in the top of the eighth inning cut the deficit to 7-6, but a five-run eighth inning but the game away for the Giants, punctuated by a Hunter Pence grand slam to provide the final margin.

Giants batters were 4-for-17 with a walk the first two times through the order against Wood.

They were 13-for-22 after that, giving the Dodgers their first loss of the season.

Up next

These two teams get back at it on Friday night, the only night game of the four-game series, with Ross Stripling making his major league debut for the Dodgers, against Matt Cain for the Giants.

Thursday particulars

Home runs: Joc Pederson (1); Hunter Pence (1)

WP - Chris Heston (1-0): 1 IP, 1 strikeout

LP - Alex Wood (0-1): 5+ IP, 8 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts