The Dodgers had a pretty eventful series against the Giants, but they came away with a win in that individual series and a 6-4 win in the season series against San Francisco.
Game 1 was somewhat unwatchable after the Dodgers knocked out Giants starter Johnny Cueto early, as the bullpen was unable to hold a 6-3 lead after Julio Urias departed in the fourth, making a short start for the second time in a row. He struggled with both his command and just getting hit hard. Kenley Jansen gave up a home run to the red hot Brandon Belt in the ninth to tie the game, his first blown save this the season. The Dodgers scored runs in both the 10th and 11th with some luck and good baserunning from Justin Turner, but couldn't hold either lead and Donovan Solano eventually hit a walk-off home run off Dennis Santana.
Following the lead of the NBA along with Brewer-Reds and Padres-Mariners, the Dodgers and Giants postponed their games on Wednesday in protest of police brutality. Mookie Betts told the Dodgers that he wouldn't be playing but that'd he'd cheer them on if they decided to, but the Dodgers rallied around Betts and chose to cancel their game, as did the Giants. It was really nice to see the Dodgers unite around their new player and stand up and speak out for what is right.
They made up the cancelled game in two 7-inning doubleheaders, the first of which Clayton Kershaw pitched. He only struck out four, but didn't walk anybody and allowed 0 earned runs over 6 innings. He could've pitched all 7, as he left the game at 86 pitches, but Roberts likely wanted to protect the lefty's health with a 7 run lead and the game secure. The Dodgers played small ball with everybody contributing until AJ Pollock home run in the 6th. The Dodgers won 7-0, with Josh Sborz pitching the 7th.
In game 2, the Dodgers started Caleb Ferguson as an opener before handing the game off to Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Jake McGee, Scott Alexander (who struggled), Blake Treinen (who bailed out Alexander), and Kenley Jansen, who earned the save. Jansen bounced back with a nice innings, allowing a bunt single and a walk, but striking out the side with his velocity way up and his stuff looking sharper than it had Tuesday. Joc Pederson homered and scored on Will Smith's RBI double for the 2 runs the Dodgers scored in the game. They won 2-0.
After not allowing the Giants to score at all on Thursday and putting them back in their place, the Dodgers head to Texas to take on the Rangers, who've lost 10 games in a row.
Photo Credit: Dodgers Twitter