By Morris Phillips
In the end, it simply felt like the Giants were 5 ½ hours closer to the off-season.
Adrian Gonzales wiped out the Giants’ only lead with a two-run homer, and a couple hours later, singled with the bases loaded in the 14th inning to give the Dodgers a 5-4 win.
Hanging over the Giants’ collective heads on Monday—besides a 3 ½ game deficit and the anxiety of being in a playoff race and not playing your best baseball—was the fact that their trip to Dodgers Stadium would conclude with Zach Greinke on Tuesday and Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday.
Not a pretty picture. Now they enter Tuesday’s game 4 ½ games out with 31 to play. Madison Bumgarner will be asked to carry the Giants deep into the ballgame after eight relievers were used by manager Bruce Bochy on Monday.
Adrian Gonzales and Andre Ethier hit home runs in the sixth inning off burdened starter Jake Peavy, and at least for the moment, there didn’t seem like there was much race left.
That’s when Marlon Byrd stepped up for the Giants, doubling home Matt Duffy in the eighth.
Sergio Romo got two outs in the eighth and all three in the ninth without allowing a run, and Jim Johnson pitched scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th for the Dodgers.
Giants have acquired Alejandro De Aza from the Red Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Luis Ysla. To make room on the 40-man roster, Ryan Lollis was designated for assignment.
The Dodgers made a move as well acquiring minor leaguer Justin Ruggiano from Seattle.
The Dodgers’ Chris Hatcher fouled out with the bases loaded to end the 13th.
In the 14th, reliever Mike Broadway walked leadoff hitter A.J. Ellis, then allowed singles to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley to load the bases. Yusmeiro Petit was called on to face Gonzales who singled over drawn-in outfielder Nori Aoki.
“Hard fought game, both sides. Unfortunately, we didn’t win it.”
Peavy retired 13 of 14 Dodgers’ batters at one point, but ran into trouble in the sixth. The home run to Gonzales came on a fastball demonstrating the Dodgers’ first baseman’s explosive bat, but Ethier’s follow-up that gave the Dodgers a lead was paintful to the Giants. Marlon Byrd saw the ball just escape his glove at the gate outside the visiting bullpen.
“That was going to be his last hitter, Ethier. He got just enough to get it out,” Bochy said.”
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