SAN FRANCISCO -- After losing three of four to the Giants last week at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers were motivated to try to punch back this week at Oracle Park, in what is turning out to be the most heated division race in baseball.

But after a 2-1 loss to the Giants on Tuesday, the series didn’t get off to a strong start for the Dodgers, who are now three games behind San Francisco in the National League West standings.

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“We know this is a tough series,” Dodgers starter Julio Urías said in Spanish. “We know these games are going to be complicated and difficult and we’re just falling short right now. When you lose a game, it obviously hurts. But today is over and we need to learn from what we didn’t do well.”

As was the case last week, the Dodgers didn’t capitalize on their opportunities and a disastrous throwing error from Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning proved to be too costly.

Bellinger, who was starting at first base as he continues to heal from a hamstring injury, made an ill-advised throw to third base to try to get Buster Posey, who was leaning slightly off the base after Darin Ruf’s groundout. Instead of getting a double play, it turned into a disaster for the Dodgers, as the throw sailed over everybody's heads and allowed Posey to score the go-ahead run.

It was just the eighth error that Bellinger has made as a first baseman in his career.

“It was a horrible throw. Horrible throw,” Bellinger said. “I absolutely just threw it and it slipped out of my hand. There’s no excuses, I just threw it too high.”

The decision to even attempt the throw can certainly be debated. Bellinger said he still believes that a good throw would have gotten Posey at third, but he also understands that playing it safe would’ve given Blake Treinen an opportunity to get out of the inning.

“Obviously, it felt fortunate,” Posey said of Bellinger’s error. “You’ve got a really tough guy in Treinen on the mound, and obviously a great team over there. You get a break like that, you take it.”

Aside from the fact that even a perfect throw might not have gotten Posey, Bellinger also appeared to be slightly screened on the play by second baseman Max Muncy, who inadvertently ran into Bellinger’s throwing lane after the initial pump fake.

“Muncy got kind of caught in the crossfire after the exchange,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Upon release, I think he saw Muncy a little bit and kind of overshot it. Cody obviously has arm strength and a very accurate arm. It’s one of those plays that is surprising to everybody. He has a good feel, he just didn’t make a good throw.”

Though Bellinger’s throwing error was the big blow, it was hardly the only reason the Dodgers fell to the Giants for the fourth time in their last five meetings. The Dodgers’ offense, which is missing Mookie Betts, has now scored just five runs in the club’s last three games.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles’ best chance to add to its run total came in the eighth against right-hander Tyler Rogers, whom the Dodgers have enjoyed plenty of success against this season.

After a Luke Raley leadoff single and a Chris Taylor one-out double, the Dodgers had runners on second and third. To make things even better, they had Muncy and Justin Turner due up, both of whom have tormented the Giants throughout their careers.

Muncy, however, wasn’t able to drive in the go-ahead run as he shot a grounder to first baseman Ruf, who fired home, throwing Raley out at the plate. Turner would then fly out to right field to end the threat.

“On one side of it, I can compliment the opposing pitching staff, but on the other side, we have to be better,” Roberts said. “In this case, as an offense, we have to be better. Getting baserunners, and when we do get them in run-scoring situations, we have to drive them in. That’s just pretty simple.”

Doing the little things has been the Dodgers’ strength this season and during their eight-year run of dominance in the division. But that has been lacking lately, as Bellinger’s bad throw served as the latest example. The Dodgers have been ahead or tied in the eighth inning of each of the last three games against the Giants. All have resulted in losses.

“It hurts, man. It definitely hurts,” Bellinger said. “These in-division games mean a lot. But the beauty of it, we get to come back tomorrow and hopefully take a game at their home place.”