Los Angeles Dodgers Trea Turner heads home after rounding third and third base coach Dino Ebel (9) in the top of the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Aug 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Giants Fall to the Rival Dodgers 8-2

By Barbara Mason

Monday night the San Francisco Giants (51-52) took on their rivals, the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers (69-33). The Dodgers not only lead their division, they have the best record in the National League. The Giants have been struggling since the all-star game but they did win a couple over the weekend against the Cubs. The Dodgers scored twice in the second and three times in the third to jump on San Francisco for a 5-1 lead which would prove to pay off later winning by six runs 8-2.

The Giants got on the scoreboard early in this game. They had the bases loaded in the first inning but could only come away with one run for the early 1-0 lead. Villar walked and with the bases loaded, Darin Ruf who was on third got a free pass home.

The Dodgers got their bats going in the second and the third inning proved to be a nightmare for SF pitcher Logan Webb. Max Muncy hit a home run in the second inning with Jake Lamb on base and Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead going into the fateful third inning.

The Dodgers started stringing hits together and by the end of the third Los Angeles had a 5-1 lead. James Outman, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman all had hits in the third inning for the Dodgers.

It was a quiet fourth inning for both teams. The Giants and the Dodgers would both score a run in the fifth inning. Will Smith hit a double bringing Freeman home. The Giants Wilmer Flores homered to left so a productive inning for both clubs. San Francisco still trailed 6-2 and had an uphill climb ahead of them.

The Dodgers refused to let San Francisco into this game. In the seventh inning, Trae Turner hit his 17th home run of the season extending their lead to 7-2.

Los Angeles added insult to injury in the ninth inning scoring another run. Freddie Freeman singled bringing in Outman for an 8-2 score. It was all Dodgers in this game. The Giants had a chance back in the first inning with the bases loaded but that was about all that Los Angeles was willing to give up. Phil Bickford closed this game out for the Dodgers. It was three up, three down and that was the ball game 8-2.

It will be back to the drawing board for the Giants as they look ahead to game two of this four game series. They will send Alex Wood to the mound. Wood has a 4.11 ERA and an 7-8 record. The Dodgers will start Tyler Anderson who comes in with a 2.61 ERA and an 11-1 win loss record. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM PT.

Notes: Jon Moorsi of the MLB Network said that the Giants could be a sleeper in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.one possible scenario could have the Giants dealing pitcher Carlos Rodon and first baseman Brandon Belt to the Washington Nationals for Soto. Moorsi said that the Giants have gotten older and obtaining the 23 year old Soto and some prospects could be a huge benefit for a Giant team whose chance to make post season would improve by acquiring Soto.