The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants kept things neck-and-neck through the first half of Saturday night’s contest, but the Dodgers rattled off six unanswered runs in a 10-4 victory.
After Tarik Skubal allowed a two-out walk to Giants designated hitter Victor Bericoto, Jung Hoo Lee attacked the first pitch he saw into the right-center field gap, but a diving play from Kyle Tucker got Skubal out of the inning with the game remaining scoreless.
Mookie Betts
started things off in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff double, and Max Muncy cashed him in with a two-strike, two-out RBI double to give the Dodgers the first lead of the game. Betts would come through again in the bottom of the second inning, lacing an RBI single the other way to plate Josue De Paula and make it a 2-0 Dodger lead.
Skubal worked his way around two baserunners for a scoreless top of the second inning, but after allowing a one-out single to Turner Hill in the top of the third inning, Bericoto launched a 3-2 fastball deep over the center field wall, tying the game at 2. Will Smith wasted no time giving the Dodgers the lead again, hammering a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning, giving him his second home run in as many games.
The Giants responded with a pair of leadoff singles from Andrew Knizner and Osleivis Basabe to begin the top of the fourth inning. A bunt from Christian Koss moved both men into scoring position, and a squeeze bunt from Jonah Cox plated Knizner to tie the game at 3.
The Dodgers would get another one-run lead thanks to an RBI double from Mookie Betts in the bottom of the fourth inning— his second double and second RBI of the game. The Giants wouldn’t let Skubal settle in for the top of the fifth inning, as Bericoto and Lee both doubled to tie the game at four.
Saturday turned out to be Skubal’s worst outing of the season, let alone as a Dodger. Skubal managed to complete five innings of work but allowed a season-high four earned runs, while his three strikeouts on the night were the fewest in any start since striking out three on August 14 of last season against the Minnesota Twins.
Despite the poor start, the Dodgers put Skubal officially in line for the win as Teoscar Hernández ignited a two-out rally with an opposite-field single. Kyle Tucker and Josue De Paula each followed with a walk, and Tommy Edman snapped out of a 1-37 funk with a go-ahead, two-run single to give the Dodgers their first multi-run lead since the third. Miguel Rojas knocked a pinch-hit single to bring home De Paula, but Edman was thrown out at home attempting to make it a four-run inning.
Evan Phillips recorded the first clean inning of the night in relief of Skubal in the top of the sixth inning, and the Dodgers responded with another three-run inning, capitalized by a two-run single by De Paula and giving the Dodgers a six-run cushion.
After a scoreless inning from Alex Vesia in the seventh inning, Edwin Díaz came in for his second consecutive game since returning from injury, pitching a scoreless top of the eighth inning while picking up a pair of strikeouts.
Mookie Betts finished Saturday going 4-4 with three doubles and two RBI, reaching base five times after a walk in the seventh inning. Betts is now 10-12 (.833 average) over his last three games with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
With their win over the Giants, the Dodgers maintain a four-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the no. 2 seed in the National League. They still trail the Milwaukee Brewers by two games for the top seed.
Game particulars
- Home runs— Victor Bericoto (5); Will Smith (9)
- WP— Tarik Skubal (11-7): 5 IP, 8 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
- LP— Yunior Marte (0-1): 4 2/3 IP, 8 hits, 6 earned runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers wrap things up against San Francisco on Sunday (1:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA) before hosting the San Diego Padres for their final regular season home series beginning Tuesday. Both teams have yet to announce their starters.
