By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Hector Sanchez came up as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning, and stayed in the game for Buster Posey and everyone is glad he did stay in the game.

Sanchez lined a single to right-center field in the bottom of the 12th inning off of Brandon League to score Brandon Crawford from third base, as the San Francisco Giants came back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 before a sellout crowd of 42,469 at AT&T Park.

Crawford singled to center field with one out, advanced to second on a wacky ground out off the bat of Brandon Hicks, that bounced off of Juan Uribe at third, over to Hanley Ramirez at shortstop, who in turn threw to Adrian Gonzalez at first base for the second out of the inning.

After a wild pitch by League that allowed Crawford move to third base, Sanchez delivered the game-winning hit that sent the remaining Giants fans home happy.

Justin Turner hit a Javier Lopez pitch up the middle just past Crawford and into centerfield with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead over the Giants.

The Turner basehit off of Lopez scored Uribe, who doubled to leadoff the inning against Jean Machi.

It was the second run of the evening scored by Uribe, as he got the Dodgers on the board in the top of the second inning with one swing of the bat.

Uribe hit a solo home run off of Tim Lincecum with two outs in the top of the second inning to get the Dodgers on the board.

In all, Lincecum went five innings, allowing just that one run on five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five on the evening.

Josh Beckett also pitched five innings for the Dodgers, as he did not allow a run, just two hits, walked five and struck out four.

The Giants blew multiple chances to get on the board, as they left the bases loaded in both the fourth, fifth and tenth innings respectively.

It must have been something in the air, as the Dodgers also left the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning against Lincecum.

After a Hunter Pence single to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, Michael Morse hit what looked like to be a sure fire double play; however Hanley Ramirez’s throw to Dee Gordon at second base was low and Pence was safe at second.

Pence then advanced an extra 90 feet, as reliever Chris Withrow’s pitch got by Tim Federowicz, while Morse stayed on first.

That was a huge 90 feet that Pence advanced, as Brandon Crawford then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Pence jogged in from third base without a throw to tie up the game.

In honor of the 67th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, all on-field personnel wore Robinson’s number 42 that was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

Prior to the game, Giants Hall of Famer broadcaster Jon Miller, and Dodgers Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully, who is in his 65th season with the Dodgers announced the starting lineups.

Also during the on-field ceremony, a letter was read by public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon via former Giants outfielder Monte Irvin, who was unable to make it to the game.