LA steamrolling toward victory in Game 162
SAN FRANCISCO -- In Sunday's regular-season finale against the Giants, the Dodgers gave starting pitcher Rich Hill a lead to work with before an out was recorded.
Chris Taylor led off against Giants starter Andrew Suarez with a walk on a 3-2 pitch, was on the run for a 3-2 pitch and scored when Justin Turner doubled to right field. Turner scored on a single to right field by David Freese.
In the third inning, the Dodgers chased Suarez while posting a seven-run frame. Suarez hit Turner with a pitch, then Freese doubled before Manny Machado and Enrique Hernandez tallied RBI singles. Matt Kemp followed with a two-run double off reliever Hunter Strickland, and Strickland's wild pitch brought in Kemp before James Dozier's two-run homer made it a nine-run Los Angeles lead.
The Dodgers plated three more in the fourth, with Chris Stratton walking Freese and back-to-back singles by Machado and Hernandez scoring Freese. Kemp then recorded his third hit in as many innings with an RBI double and Hernandez came home on Dozier's sacrifice fly.
The lead ballooned to 14-0 in the fifth when Player Page for Max Muncy, pinch-hitting for Turner, smacked a two-run homer into McCovey Cove.
The Dodgers opened the day tied with the Colorado Rockies for first place in the National League West and are seeking their sixth consecutive division title.