LIVE BLOGGING with Community Editor Eddie Rivera: Dodgers Rock the Giants, 7-3

In a game that saw some great hitting, some lousy fielding, and some solid, if not sparkling pitching, the Dodger bested their rivals to the north Friday evening, 7-3, before a sell-out crowd of 53,449.

Kike Hernandez, playing for Carl Crawford, had a one-in-a-season game, as he said, “Bang Zoom!” to the first pitch he saw from Giant starter Madison Bumgarner, who has knocked the Dodgers around a bit himself. Hernandez followed his lead-off homer with a solo shot in the third inning, eventually driving in four runs.

Some-timer Charlie Culberson also had a productive night, bring in three runs with a two-run single in the fourth and adding another RBI single in the sixth.

The win was Clayton Kershaw’s second, against no losses, allowing three runs on five hits in seven hits. He also threw two wild pitches which allowed two of the Giant runs.

The third consecutive win puts the Dodgers (7-4)  in first place in the NL West. They are also now 3-2 against the Giants this season.

The two teams will battle again tomorrow evening and Sunday afternoon.

Here’s how we blogged it.

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It’s one of those great rivalries  tonight. The Dodgers ace, Clayton Kershaw, faces off against the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner. The two teams are currently tied for first place in the National League West, so every game in the series will be meaningful.

The Dodgers and the rest of major league baseball are celebrating Jackie Robinson today, with every player in the league wearing the legendary number “42” tonight.

FIRST INNING

TOP

The Giants g0 1-2-3, like that.

BOTTOM

Kike Hernandez kicks things off with a home run on the first pitch.

Yasiel Puig (No relation) strikes out.

Gonzales singles to left.

Justin Turner is so out.

As is Howie Kendrick.

SECOND INNING

TOP

Kelby Thompson is out at First.

Madison Bumgarner singles to first.

Grego Blanco reaches first on an error by Kendrick

Another Kendrick error on a single by Pagan scores a run.

Someone makes an out, and then another one.

Trayce Thompson is out at first.

Dodgers 1, Giants 1

BOTTOM

Hernandez hits a 2-0 pitch into the left field stands for his second homer of the game.

Puig strikes out.

Kershaw flies out.

Dodgers 2- Giants 1.

THIRD INNING

Ok we were late. We’re trying to catch up. I can’t read my own writing.

We are in the top of the fourth.

Dodgers lead 2-1.

FOURTH INNING

TOP

Los Gigantes go away really quietly. Don’t get fooled again.

BOTTOM

Turner singles to right.

Kendrick singles to right, and that’s no error.

Trayce Thompson goes to 1-2….2-2, runners on first and second…he strikes out.

It’s Ellis again. Bumgarner has one eye on the runners. That’s gotta hurt like hell. Ellis is at 1-2. He singles as Joe Panik (Sshhhh…)  cant field it, and the bases are loaded.

Charlie Culberson drives in two runs, as the Giants are slow to field and quick to bobble.

Panik (Sssshhh!) develops a major case of bobbleitis. And not in a good way.

Kike Hernandez has now driven in a total of four runs with a double to left.

Gonzales at the plate with runners on second and third. He strikes out to end the inning.

Dodgers 6, Giants 1.

FIFTH INNING

Top

Kelby Tomlinson goes to 1-2, 2-2, gets shot down at first by Ellis.

Bumgarner gets stricken out by Kershaw.

Gregor Blanco also gets himself all stricken out as well, also.

Dodgers 6, Giants 1.

Bottom

Justin Turner grounds out to first.

Howie Kendrick (No relation)

Trayce Thompson grounds right out to first.

Dodgers 6, Giants 1.

SIXTH INNING

TOP

Angel Pagan singles to first, when Turner can’t reach him from third.

Joe Panik (ssshhhh!) singles to right, moving Pagan along.

All right, be cool. Runners on first and second and Buster Posey is up.

Posey grounds out to first.

All right, be cool. Runners on second and third and Hunter Pence is up. He gets to 0-2, then Kershaw throws a wild one that scores Pagan.

And it’s only one out.

Pence is at 2-2,  fouling off a few in a row..and the count is full. Pence singles and scores Pagan.

Brandon Belt (No relation) is at 1-1, with only one out. We’re at a full count again. He flies WAY out.

Matt Duffy gets to 0-2, per se, and grounds out to first, as such.

Dodgers 6, Giants 3.

BOTTOM

Ellis doubles to center field. Who knew?

Charlie Culberson follows up with a single, and brings Ellis home to his friends in the dugout.

Kershaw singles when Belt can’t buckle up the throw to first, and Culberson goes to second. There is a chat show on the mound.  Cory Gearrin is in to pitch.

Kike Hernandez grounds out to first.

SEVENTH INNING

Top

Kershaw strikes someone out.

Mac Williamson gets to a full count. Then gets shot down by some completely excellent fielding by Turner to Gonzales.

And then the next guy. And then everyone sings.

Dodgers 7, Giants 3

Bottom

Derek Law is making his major league debut, right……Now.

(Steve Futterman of CBS News just said, “You just sat on your hot dog.”)

Justin Turner triples to really deep right.

Hendrick’s got nuttin…

Trayce Thompson strikes out looking, at what I dont know.

(I also dont know who made the second out..)

Dodgers 7, Giants 3.

EIGHTH INNING

Top

The dapper and dangerous Angel Pagan strikes out.

Joe Panik (Ssssh!) grounds out to Senor Gonzales at Primero.

Buster Posey strikes out and looks to the heavens for an answer. Don’t get me started.

Dodgers 7, Giants 3.

Bottom

AJ Ellis grounds out.

Charlie Culberson flies out to leftish-rightish.

Joc Pederson gets to first.

Kike! Hernandez is at 0-2,…then grounds out to second, so to speak.

Dodgers 7, Giants 3.

NINTH INNING

Top

Joe Blanton is pitching for the Dodgers.

Hunter Pence gets himself strucken out by Blanton.

Brandon Belt is at 1-1-1., is shot down by Blanton.

Matt Duffy (Rhymes with “Duffy”) is at 2-2, then strikes out. Cue “I Love LA…”

“Look at these women, look at those trees….”

Dodgers 7, Giants 3 FINAL