Giants peck their way to a split with Dodgers

The Giants used nine singles, five walks and a well-timed stolen base to beat the Dodgers 3-1 and leave both teams at 2-2 after the weekend series. The Giants used six relief pitchers and they pitched 5⅓ scoreless innings to hold down the Dodgers on Sunday night.

After scoring 17 runs in the first two games, the Dodgers only scored five runs in the last two games of the series.

Neither team produced an extra-base hit until A.J. Pollock doubled to lead off the bottom of the ninth. But the Dodgers could do nothing more and they will head out on the road carrying a two-game losing streak.

As they had done in two of the first three games of this series, the Giants scored first when Darin Ruf singled home Mike Yastrzemski in the top of the third inning.

The Dodgers answered the Giants with their own run in the bottom of the third. Mookie Betts singled and with two outs, stole his first base of the season. Justin Turner walked and Cody Bellinger lined single to right to score Betts and tie the game.

In the sixth inning, two singles against Brusdar Graterol gave the Giants an opportunity to take the lead and after Adam Kolarek got a Brandon Crawford to fly out, Mauricio Dubon singled to left to make it 2-1 Giants.

The Giants used a rare stolen base by Ruf and a two-out single Donovan Solano to extend their lead 3-1 after the top of the seventh. Ruf had one career stolen base before stealing that base.

The Dodgers had their best chance to tie the game when Turner and Bellinger had back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the eighth. After Chris Taylor grounded out, Corey Seager was maybe hit by a pitch (replay showed that the ball might have just hit the bat).

That meant Kiké Hernández was up with the bases-loaded but he would ground out to third to end the threat.

The Dodgers would end the game going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position but with four of those at-bats coming in their last five plate appearances, it was more a case of non-action than any frustration with leaving runners on this night.

Solid start for Urías

Julio Urías pitched five innings, allowing one run and five hits. He had three strikeouts and three walks. The Giants had at least one runner on base in every inning but did not square up too many pitches against Urías.

Urías faced 22 batters, made 78 pitches with 51 strikes. His next start will likely be in Phoenix next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Jansen makes his first appearance of the season

Kenley Jansen 2020 debut was not in a save situation but having gone the first three games without pitching, it was inevitable that he would pitch on Sunday.

Jansen came into the game trailing by two runs in the ninth inning. He retired the side in order, striking out Yastrzemski to get the first out of the inning.

Game particulars

WP — Wandy Peralta (1-0): 1 IP, 1 strikeout

LP — Brusdar Graterol (0-1): ⅓ IP, 2 hits, 1 run

Sv - Trevor Gott (2): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout

Up next

The Dodgers begin their longest road trip of this season as they go to three cities in nine days. Their first stop will be in Houston for a two-game series starting on Tuesday evening. Right-hander Walker Buehler will make his 2020 debut against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. PT.