Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshi Tsutsugo hits an RBI-single in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants on Sun May 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-It took until the series finale to see why the Los Angeles Dodgers are the defending World Champions, and have won the last eight National League Western Division Championships.

Gavin Lux hit a grand slam as part of a seven-run third inning, as the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 11-5 before a crowd of 13,346 at Oracle Park.

With the victory, the Dodgers swept the Giants and leapfrogged them into second place, a game behind the San Diego Padres and the Giants, who entered the weekend in first place, are now in third place and two games behind the Padres.

Julio Urias was cruising along, as he was perfect until Mike Tauchman beat out an infield dribbler with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Urias struck out Caleb Baragar for the second out of the inning, Austin Slater broke up the shutout, when he hit a two-run home run, he then gave up a single to Donovan Solano before getting Mike Yastrzemski out on strikes.

Urias went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, he did not walk a batter and struck out 10 to improve to 7-1 on the season. This was the third career double figure strikeout game for Urias, and the previous two also came this season.

On the other hand, it was a rough day for Anthony DeSclafani, as he last 2.2 innings, allowing 10 runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out three and saw his record fall to 4-2 on the season.

It was in that third inning, that the Dodgers blew the game open, as they batted around scored seven runs on five hits and the big blow was the Lux grand slam and it was the second grand slam of the week and his career. Lux also hit a grand slam on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

Yoshi Tsutsugo got the Dodgers scoring going in the top of the second inning, as he singled to right field to score Will Smith. After DeSclafani was able to get DJ Peters to strikeout, Urias hit a two-run double over the head of Yastrzemski to lengthen the Dodgers lead.

Max Beaty got in on the act in the top of the third inning, as he singled to score Max Muncy, Chris Taylor then singled in Smith and after Tsutsugo grounded out for the first out of the inning, Peters was intentionally walked to bring up Urias with the bases loaded and beat out an infield hit to Beaty and then Lux unloaded them with one swing of the bat.

The Giants cut into the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, as they scored three runs in the frame. Donovan Solano hit a sacrifice fly that scored Tauchman from third base, Tauchman walked to lead off the inning, went to third on a pinch-hit double by Steven Duggar.

Slater then walked and then Solano hit a sacrifice fly to score Tauchman, and then Yastrzemski hit a two-run double to score Duggar and Slater.

Over the final 6.1 innings, the Giants allowed just one run in just two hits, walking one and striking out two.

NOTES: This rivalry between the Giants and the Dodgers that goes back to the 1890s has been one sided over the past few years.

Since September 8, 2019, the Giants are now 4-13 over the past 17 games against the Dodgers and have been outscored 100-40 during that stretch.

Sam Selman, who was optioned to Sacramento just yesterday was recalled from the Rivercats to replace Matt Wisler, who was placed on the bereavement list.

Thank you to Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register for this tidibit.

Dennis Santana, the reliever for the Dodgers, who pitched the ninth inning in the finale is named for two basketball players, one who is a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, and his middle name associated with a notable NBA Player and current NCAA Basketball Coach.

He is named after Dennis Rodman, who won five NBA Championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls and also played for the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

Santanas father, who is obviously a big basketball fan and his middle name is Anfernee after Anfernee Penny Hardaway, who is the current basketball coach at the University of Memphis.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants head out on the road and the trip begins with a two-game stop in Arizona against the Diamondbacks and then onto Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in a four-game series beginning on Thursday.