Giants sweep Dodgers with back-to-back walk-offs
SAN FRANCISCO -- Justin Maxwell's one-out single Thursday shattered a 10th-inning deadlock and gave the San Francisco Giants a 3-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers, completing a three-game sweep for the defending World Series champions. It was the second straight walk-off victory for the Giants in the series.
With the score tied, 2-2, Angel Pagan launched San Francisco's winning surge by singling on a full-count pitch from Juan Nicasio, the Dodgers' sixth reliever. One out later, after Pagan stole second base, Brandon Belt drew an intentional walk before Maxwell whistled his hit past third base.
"Every time I walk up to the plate, I try to hit it hard," said Maxwell, who tripled and homered in Tuesday's series opener and collected two hits Thursday -- besides lining out with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning.
"Give him credit. He didn't get down," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He comes up again and wins the game for us."
Video: LAD@SF: Maxwell discusses his walk-off single
Earlier, Los Angeles jumped ahead on home runs by Alex Guerrero and Adrian Gonzalez in the second and third innings, respectively, off Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong. Belt, the last batter faced by Dodgers starter Mike Bolsinger, delivered an RBI single with two outs in the sixth to halve the difference. The Giants pulled even in the ninth on Brandon Crawford's run-scoring triple with nobody out, but he was stranded as Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez recovered to retire the next three hitters.
Video: LAD@SF: Crawford ties the game with an RBI triple
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Howie catch that? Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick made a sterling defensive play in the bottom of the eighth to preserve his team's late 2-1 lead. The Giants loaded the bases with two outs against reliever Joel Peralta to bring Maxwell to the plate. He scorched a low line drive toward center field that looked like it would bring in two runs, but Kendrick made a diving grab to his right to rob Maxwell and end the inning.
Video: LAD@SF: Kendrick makes a diving catch to escape jam
"I happened to be in the right spot at the right time," Kendrick said. "I can't really tell you I was planning to do that. I just reacted to it." Said Maxwell, "I couldn't see whether he caught it or not. Then I heard the crowd." More >
Counting on Vogelsong: With Jake Peavy possibly destined to spend significant time on the disabled list while his ailing back mends, Vogelsong's six-inning outing provided hope that he can capably fill the vacancy left by Peavy in the starting rotation.
Video: LAD@SF: Vogelsong pitches six innings of two-run ball
Alex again: For the second straight day, Guerrero delivered a home run as he makes his case for more playing time. Guerrero belted a solo shot to center field against Vogelsong with two outs in the second inning. It marked his fourth homer in just 17 at-bats to begin the year, including a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Madison Bumgarner on Wednesday. More >
Video: LAD@SF: Guerrero hammers a solo homer to center
REPLAY REVIEW
A request for a replay review of Pagan's 10th-inning stolen base confirmed the umpire's safe call on the field. Pagan beat Yasmani Grandal's throw, but Dodgers manager Don Mattingly contended that shortstop Jimmy Rollins tagged Pagan as the Giants center fielder shifted his feet on the bag while rising from the dirt.
Video: LAD@SF: Stolen base confirmed after challenge in 10th
QUOTABLE
"Those guys have won three championships in the past five years. I don't think they need us to give them life. I don't think any of us in this locker room thought they were going anywhere." -- Mattingly on the Giants completing a sweep
WHAT'S NEXT
Dodgers: The California road swing will continue with a Friday night matchup (7:10 p.m. PT) in San Diego when Zack Greinke squares off against fellow veteran right-hander Andrew Cashner. The Dodgers took two out of three from the Padres in the season-opening series earlier this month.
Giants: Chris Heston, the first Giants rookie since 1914 to begin a season with three consecutive starts of six innings or more with one run or fewer allowed, will take the ball for Friday's 5:40 p.m. PT opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies, who pulled off a three-game sweep April 13-15 at San Francisco.
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