Bailey downs Dodgers with 1st HR -- and 1st extra-base hit -- of 2026

4:03 AM UTC

SAN FRANCISCO -- 's first home run of the season was a big one.

Bailey hammered a three-run shot to snap a scoreless tie in the seventh inning and spur the Giants to a 3-0 win that clinched a series victory over the rival Dodgers on Wednesday night at Oracle Park.

The Giants (11-13) were shut out through the first six innings by two-way star Shohei Ohtani, but they finally managed to break the deadlock against left-hander Jack Dreyer in the bottom of the seventh.

Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos led off with back-to-back singles before Drew Gilbert laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out for Bailey.

The switch-hitting Bailey entered Wednesday batting only .145 with a .362 OPS and zero extra-base hits through his first 18 games of the year, but he came through with the swing of the night, driving a 1-2 slider from Dreyer a Statcast-projected 407 feet out to left field to put the Giants ahead, 3-0.

Bailey has underperformed at the plate for the Giants in recent years, but he’s developed a knack for late-game heroics against the Dodgers. He memorably delivered a walk-off grand slam against Los Angeles left-hander Tanner Scott on Sept. 12, 2025, which was his only home run from the right side last year.

Bailey is now one of three Giants since 2010 with multiple go-ahead homers in the seventh inning or later against the Dodgers, joining Buster Posey and Juan Uribe.

Bailey wasn’t the only Giant to get on the board in a big way on Wednesday. Veteran right-hander Tyler Mahle also struck out five over seven scoreless innings to outduel Ohtani and earn his first win for San Francisco.