By: Eric He

AP photo: Los Angeles Dodger Kike Hernandez points to the crowd at Dodger Stadium after launching a solo shot in the first inning as San Francisco Giant catcher Buster Posey watches on Friday night

LOS ANGELES — Felled by a couple of home runs by Kike Hernandez and a disastrous fourth inning, the Giants disappointed in a 7-3 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

Madison Bumgarner lasted just five innings and was shelled for seven runs — four of them earned. He failed to retire Hernandez, who recorded four RBI off him on the night.

Hernandez homered on the first pitch he saw and in the third inning, both solo shots that gave the Dodgers a one-run lead at the time. His third-inning blast put the Dodgers ahead 2-1.

But Los Angeles blew the game open in the fourth inning off Bumgarner, who saw his defense collapse behind him. Kelby Tomlinson botched a would-be inning-ending double play; instead, Charlie Culberson delivered a double with the bases loaded that scored two runs. The sequence repeated itself when Joe Panik made a poor toss to second on a ground ball by Clayton Kershaw. Hernandez followed it up with a double down the left field line to score two more runs.

By the time the inning ended, the Dodgers led 6-1. The Giants committed three errors on the night.

Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw clearly got the better of the matchup of aces. The Giants took advantage two wild pitches, which scored a run each, but Kershaw went seven innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out six.

The Giants tied the game 1-1 on a rally in the third inning. After Bumgarner singled to lead off the frame for the Giants’ first hit, the Giants subsequently loaded the bases with and scored on a wild pitch. But Buster Posey lined out to left to end the inning.

After starting the season 6-2, the Giants have now lost three straight. Johnny Cueto will take the mound against Scott Kazmir on Saturday night in the second game of the series.