LA wins 8th straight on Farmer's 1st hit in 11th

July 30th, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Rookie 's first Major League hit, a two-run double in the 11th inning, delivered the Dodgers a 3-2 comeback win over the Giants on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium to extend their winning streak to eight games and give them their 31st come-from-behind victory this season.
The Dodgers called up Farmer on Friday from Triple-A Oklahoma City to give the club an extra bench player. The 26-year-old became the first Dodgers player since Darren Dreifort on May 27, 1994, to have his first career hit be a walk-off knock.
"I told him, joking, in like the seventh or eighth inning," said , "I was like 'Dude this game has Kyle Farmer written all over it. You're going to win this game.' And [Farmer] looked at me and said, 'I know.'"
Joe Panik had pulled the Giants ahead in the top of the 11th with an RBI single to score from third base, but the Dodgers answered with two runs to pull off the sweep.

Panik was asked how he and the Giants, who trail Los Angeles by 34 1/2 games in the National League West, have coped with such a rough season.
"The way you cope is knowing how you have to go back out the next day and give it your all," said Panik. "There's 24 other guys giving everything they've got; You've got a coaching staff doing everything they can to prepare us still. You've got fans who are still so supportive. So you're playing for a lot of reasons."
The Dodgers rallied in the ninth behind , who legged out a pinch-hit single and swiped second base, putting in position to bring him home with a single to tie the game at 1-1 and send it to extras.

broke a scoreless tie with his seventh career pinch-hit homer off Dodgers righty Josh Fields in the eighth.
Giants ace and Dodgers lefty dueled over seven scoreless innings, with both hurlers delivering their best starts of the season. Ryu allowed five hits and struck out seven on 85 pitches. He was able to induce ground balls, which in turn helped produce three of the Dodgers' franchise-record six double plays.

In his fourth start since returning from the disabled list, Bumgarner fanned seven, allowed five hits and issued one walk on 99 pitches.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Don't challenge Kiké: The Giants were in business after back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly put Panik at third base. Ryu fired a 79-mph slider to get to pop up to center field, right where Hernandez was waiting. Hernandez caught the ball and threw a laser to the plate to gun down Panik, ending the inning and erasing the Giants' scoring threat.

Keeping it tight: The Dodgers' defense came up clutch when it needed to throughout the night, but an especially important stop came in the 11th. After the Giants had tacked on a go-ahead run with Panik's RBI single, followed with a single to put slugger at the plate. But Dodgers righty was able to get Posey to ground into a double play, keeping the lead at one run.

QUOTABLE
"I looked out and I saw [Alex] Wood running at me full speed and I didn't know what he was going to do. And then all of a sudden he tackled me, so that's probably the best hit he's had on me in years" -- Farmer, on the Dodgers' celebration
"Kyle's going to remember that for a long time. For his family to be here, to get the field stormed on by his teammates, coaches, managers. It was something that was just so special." -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, on Farmer's game-winning hit

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The Dodgers have recorded a Major League-best 14 sweeps this season, which is the most the club has logged since 1976.
WHAT'S NEXT
Giants: More rivalry games await the Giants, who will cross the bay to face Interleague nemesis Oakland in a 7:05 p.m. PT encounter Monday. The Giants may or may not face Oakland ace , who's on the trading block and could get dealt before the non-waiver Trade Deadline expires at 1 p.m. PT Monday. will pitch for the Giants. The teams will play twice in Oakland, followed by two games in San Francisco.
Dodgers: The Dodgers get a day off before heading to Atlanta to face the Braves for a three-game set on Tuesday. Righty will get the ball for the 4:35 p.m. PT start. Maeda has had issues on the road, posting a 3-3 record with a 5.65 ERA.
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