Photo credit: @Angel_City_Buzz

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — In what was a close game, evaporated rather quickly for the San Francisco Giants in the top of the eighth inning.

Dereck Rodriguez gave up four runs on just two hits, and walked two, as the Los Angeles Dodgers broke open a close game on their way to a 7-2 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 37,784 at Oracle Park.

Corey Seager came up with the big blow in the inning, as he took a Mark Melancon pitch and put it into the right-center field alley to score both Max Muncy and Justin Turner.

It was the fourth hit of the day for Seager, marking the seventh time that the shortstop picked up four hits in the same game and the first time since April 18, 2018 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Russell Martin got the marathon eighth inning started, as he singled off of Rodriguez, then David Freese doubled, and then Joc Pederson reached on a Fielders Choice that loaded the bases. Following the Pederson Fielders Choice, Muncy drove in a run, as he walked off of Rodriguez and then Turner did the same to score Freese.

That would be all for Rodriguez, as Melancon came on to replace and got Pederson at the plate, as he tried to advance on a throw that got by Aramis Garcia.

Bellinger was then intentionally walked for the third time on the afternoon, and then Seagers double broke the game wide open.

They are both really good hitters, said Bruce Bochy.

Rich Hill went five innings for the Dodgers, as he picked up his third win of the season. Hill allowed two runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out six.

The same cannot be said for Jeff Samardzija, who five and one-thirds innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five. Samardzija also uncorked two wild pitches, as he saw his record fall to 3-5 on the season.

Unfortunately, Samardzija was on the receiving end of a couple bad calls by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher that led to the departure of Samardzija, one call was the fact that it looked like Pederson did not get out of the way on a pitch that hit him. The play was reviewed by the umpires, and the play stood.

He did a hell of a job of not getting of the way, said Samardzija.

Seager gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as he picked up his second hit in as many at-bats after Bellinger was intentionally just in front of him. Pederson scored, as he reached on a wild pitch after he was struck out by Samardzija and went to third on a Turner ground-rule double that bounced into the seats down the left field line.

Garcia tied it up in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his third home run of the season, an opposite field shot that landed on the arcade in right field.

Donovan Solano gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he singled in Kevin Pillar and Brandon Crawford beat the Alex Verdugo throw to third base.

Seager tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he picked up his third hit in as many at-bats, when his double scored Turner, who led off the inning with a single.

Turner gave the Dodgers the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, as his sacrifice fly scored Kyle Garlick from third base.

It was a huge day for Garlick, who picked up his first major league hit on a double down the left field line and then scored his first major league run on the Turner sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski in right field.

Things started out rough for the Giants, as Tyler Austin banged his knee against the wall in foul territory in left field, but stayed in the game.

Then Pillar and Yastrzemski ran into each other on a ball that Muncy hit in the first, but Yastrzemski held onto it for the second out of the inning.

That was no mans land, and the crowd noise, said Bochy.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the first inning for the second straight game, but like Drew Pomeranz on Friday night, Samardzija got out of it, unscathed.

NOTES: Evan Longoria committed his eighth error of the season, tying him with Josh Donaldson of the Atlanta Braves for the most by a third baseman in the National League.

The Giants went 1-for-11 with Runners in Scoring Position, and over their last four games, they are 2-for-20 with RISP.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound in the series finale, as he will make his 34th career start against the Dodgers and is 15-12 with a 2.56 ERA. Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Dodgers, as he will make his second start of the season against the Giants and fifth appearance overall with two starts and is now 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA lifetime.