LIVE BLOGGING WITH EDDIE RIVERA | Dodgers Fail Every Opportunity, Drop Second in a Row, 3-2, to Giants

The game was nowhere near as close as the score. The Dodgers successfully managed to fail every opportunity they created or that was created for them, as they lost to the San Francisco Giants 3-2, Saturday.

The Giants, on the other hand, answered every call, and perfectly kept the Dodgers at bay throughout the contest.

The Dodgers shabby relief pitching, exemplified last night by Justin Bruihl, was displayed by Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning, as he was unable to find the strike zone with a geiger counter, and allowed in what turned out to be the winning run, with a wild pitch.

Clayton Kershaw, returning from the injured list and who took the loss, was never really a factor in the game.

Given two shots at a bases-loaded opportunity in the eighth inning, the Dodgers painfully came home with an “F” on their report cards, and a check in the “L” column.

A ninth inning home run by Freddie Freeman, bringing the Dodgers ever so close, also went wanting, a run with nowhere to go.

The Dodgers have another “opportunity” to avoid what would be a scorchingly painful sweep to the Gigantes tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks for reading. I’m so outta here.

Here’s how we blogged it:

FIRST INNING
Top

Betts, Freeman and Turner all go quietly.

Dodgers 0, Giants coming up.

Bottom

Kershaw strikes out the first batter he sees—The Giants’ Austin Slater, and the rest of his Giant buddies also go quietly.

Dodgers 0, Giants 0.

SECOND INNING
Top

Dodgers go quietly again, but ‘cept for a single from Freeman. All for naught-ish.

Dodgers 0, Giants 0.

Bottom

Wilmer Flores (Not the nutritious snack cake) flies right out.

Thairo Estrada sends one to the left field bleachers.

Brandon Crawford strolls to first.

Austin Wynn singles.

Curt Casali is at 0-2. 1-2. 2-2. Strikes out looking.

Luis “Don’t call me Steve” Gonzales is at 1-2. He singles to right, scoring Crawford.

Gonzales steals second. No charges filed.

Kerhaw retires Slater.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

THIRD INNING
Top

Dodgers make smoke, but no fire. Light but no heat.

Bottom

The Giants make their own kind of quiet.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

FOURTH INNING
Top

Muncy and Bellinger get on base, but Chris (no relation) Taylor hits one right at Darrin Ruf.

Bottom

The Giants are loading the bases at will. Estrada is aboard on an error, and Crawford got walked-ed.

Wynns flies out to left, and now Estrada is perched at third.

Casali be at 1-2. He strikes out on a very foul bunt.

Gonzales grounds out to first, not in a good way.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

FIFTH INNING
Top

Lux (not the coconut treat) is out at first.

Betts is walking.

Freeman grounds out. On the ground.

Trea Turner flies all the way out to Ramos in right field.

Bottom

Kershaw is done (71 pitches, 42 strikes). Yancy Almonte is pitching for Los Doyers.

Yazstremski lines out.

Ruf is aboard yet again after a lazy error by Almonte.

Joc Pederson is at 2-2. He strikes all the way out.

Flores hits into an out at second. Hello Mr. Ruf. Bye Mr. Ruf.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

SIXTH INNING
Top

Dominic Leone pitching for Los Gigantes.

Max “Call me Max” Muncy flies out to right.

Will Smith singles to center

Justin Turner. Is at 1-1. He flies out to right.

Bellinger is at 0-2. With bubble gum. He hits one back at Leone. This late after noon game is moving fast. It will end before the moon rises.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

Estrada is out at first.

Chat show on the mound. Yalmonte is done. Alex Vezia on the mound.

Crawford is at 2-0. He strikes totally out.

Wynns singles to right.

Casali flies the freak out.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

SEVENTH INNING
Top

Taylor has a full count, takes a walk.

Lux (not the Estonian wine blend) is at 2-1. 2-2. He singles straight up the middle.

Chat show on the mound.

With Lux on first and Taylor on second, Mookie is up to bat. He singles and Taylor goes to third and Lux goes to second.

Bases loaded. Freeman is batting as Dodger fans shout, “Freddie! Freddie!” Down he goes. One out, bases loaded.

Trea Turner hits into a double play. Everyone is out. Inning over. Giants fans do the happy dance.

Bottom

Caleb Ferguson now pitching for Los Doyers. He successfully walks Gonzales, the first batter he faces.

Yazstremski hits into a force out at second. He lands at first base free and clear.

Ruf is at 1-2. He hits into a double play.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0.

EIGHTH INNING
Top

Muncy grounds out on the first pitch he sees.

Smith lifts one over the infield into left.

Turner swing and a miss. He singles to right, and Smith goes to third.

Bellinger, seriously slumping these days, is at bat. He doubles on a bounce over the center field fence.

Runners on second and third. Yet another opportunity looms for the Blue.

Camilo Doval is pitching for the Giants. Taylor is at 2-0. 3-2. He strolls to first. Lux. Bases loaded. Again. Another chance for the Dodgers wasted.

Betts strikes out swinging. Another chance for the Dodgers wasted.

Giants 2, Dodgers 1.

Giants fans inexplicably sing “YMCA.”

Bottom

Pederson singles.

Kimbrel walks Flores. The Dodger futility continues.

Estrada is at 3-0. Kimbrel looks for a compass. He walks Estrada. Everyone moves up. The Dodgers rightfully deserve whatever happens to them tonight.

Crawford is at 0-1. 1-1. Pederson comes home on a wild pitch.

Now there is some discussion as to whether or not Crawford was hit by the ball at some point.

Play resumes. Kimbrel stays in, with Crawford staring back at him like a bad report card. 3-2. There are no outs. He strikes out Crawford. But Roberts takes away his car keys.

Evan Phillips on the mound for LA. Wynns is at 1-2. Down he goes.

Casali is at 2-1. Swing and a miss.

Giants 3, Dodgers 1.

NINTH INNING

Freeman air mails a 91 mph sinker into right field.

Turner singles to left field.

Muncy strikes out swinging.

Will Smith safe at first. Trea is forced out.

Eddy Alvarez singles.

FINAL: Giants 3, Dodgers 2.