Yasiel Puig homers in Dodgers rout of Giants

Yasiel Puig hit a three-run home run to key a five-run first inning, making quick work of Matt Moore in the Dodgers’ 9-3 win over the Giants on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

The victory gave the Dodgers a six-game lead over the Giants in the National League West, and lowered their magic number to clinch the division to five.

In Matt Moore’s last two starts at Dodger Stadium this year he was very good, even dominant on Aug. 25 when he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. On this night, Howie Kendrick opened the game with a single, and the hits just kept coming.

Moore allowed six hits and a walk in the opening frame, with Puig delivering the big blow, a three-run shot to right center field to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. Puig since his return from Triple-A Oklahoma City is 7-for-24 (.292) with four home runs, a double and two walks against left-handed pitchers.

The Dodgers added another run to close out the first inning, then started the second inning with a hit by pitch and another single to end Moore’s night. The left-hander recorded just three outs, but allowed six runs.

Howie Kendrick added a two-run double to right field in the third inning, and the rout was on.

Puig didn’t only contribute on offense. He also tracked down this drive to right by Joe Panik to end the fourth inning, then did a Bo Jackson run up the wall afterward.

The bounty of runs was more than enough for Kenta Maeda, who allowed a home run to Ehire Adrianza but only allowed two total runs, one earned, in five innings for his 16th win.

Maeda improved to 10-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 16 starts against NL West teams this season, with 101 strikeouts and 20 walks in 92 innings. Against the Giants he is 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts.

Notes

Among LA Dodgers rookies, Maeda’s 16 wins trail only Rick Sutcliffe, who had 17 wins in 1979.

Maeda earned a $1.5 million bonus for making his 30th start of the season. He is one inning away from earning another $250,000 bonus for 170 innings.

Corey Seager reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and scored the Dodgers’ first run. It was the 100th run scored on the season for Seager, the first Dodger with 100 runs scored since Matt Kemp (115) in 2011.

Julio Urias made his first relief appearance since Aug. 13, and his third of the season, allowing a run in two innings, pitching the sixth and seventh.

Alex Wood pitched in his first game since May 30, throwing a perfect eighth inning. It was his first regular season relief appearance since June 8, 2014 with the Braves. Wood also pitched in relief for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the 2015 NLDS.

Up next

The Dodgers welcome the Colorado Rockies to town for their final meeting of the year, a four-game weekend series. Brett Anderson gets the call in the opener on Thursday night against one of his old teams, while the Rockies will send Tyler Chatwood to the mound in the 7:10 p.m. PT start.

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Yasiel Puig (11); Ehire Adrianza (2)

WP - Kenta Maeda (16-9): 5 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

LP - Matt Moore (11-12): 1+ IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk