Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a difference one week and a day off did for Drew Pomeranz and the San Francisco Giants.

Kevin Pillar singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Brandon Belt, who walked to lead off the inning and the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 before a crowd of 35,157 at Oracle Park.

Stuck that big 14 sized shoe in there, said Belt.

Pomeranz, who did not make it out of the 2nd inning in his last start, went five innings, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out seven.

The seven strikeouts by Pomeranz tied a season-high that was first accomplished against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 18.

Pomeranz escaped a first inning jam that could have been tragic, but he settled down after loading the bases and got David Freese and Corey Seager to strikeout to end the inning.

Just made my pitches, said Pomeranz.

During the Belt at-bat, he fouled a ball off down the left field line that saw Chris Taylor fall over the bullpen mound. Belt regrouped in the at-bat to pick up the key baserunner that helped the Giants get on the board and eventually win the ballgame.

We got a break there when Taylor fell over the mound, said Bochy.

Following the Pillar single, Brandon Crawford grounded into a fielders choice that saw Longoria beat the throw from Max Muncy.

Not only did Belt come up big at the plate with that key walk, but he also dropped a bunt with the Dodgers in the shift and also came up big on the defensive side of things.

With Muncy on first base after a leadoff walk against Reyes Moronta, Justin Turner lined out to Belt, and with Muncy running on the play, Belt just stepped on first base for the double play.

Things were looking great for the Giants until Chris Taylor uncorked a solo home run over the center field wall to cut the Giants lead in half in the top of the eighth inning.

After the Taylor home run, Tony Watson, who gave up the home run to Taylor, then gave up a single to Muncy; however, Watson was able to regroup, as he got Turner to lineout to Crawford at shortstop and then Cody Bellinger flew out to Steven Duggar to end the inning and the threat.

Clayton Kershaw, who went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four, as he saw his record fall to 5-1 on the season. This was Kershaws first loss since July 21, 2018 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Will Smith came on to close out the game for the Giants, as he is now 14-for-14 in save opportunities this season.

Since moving to San Francisco in 1958, Smith is third all-time in save opportunities to start a season. Smith trails Rod Beck, who converted 28 in a row to start the 1994 season and Craig Lefferts picked up 15 straight in the 1989 National League Championship season for the Giants.

NOTES: This was the Giants’ 14th win of the season in one-run games, and they have the best winning percentage in baseball (14-5), a winning percentage in one-run games.

Kershaw last lost at Oracle Park on October 1, 2016, and it was just his second loss in San Francisco in his last 10 decisions.

Bellinger saw his career-high 12-game hitting streak come to an end, as he went 0-for-3 on the night.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija heads to the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Giants, while Rich Hill will take the mound for the Dodgers.