Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy hits a three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning  at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 12, 2023 (AP News photo)

Giants Drop Series to Rival Dodgers 10-5

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday evening the San Francisco Giants (5-7) played the rival Los Angeles Dodgers (7-6) in the rubber game of their three game series. The Dodgers won the first game of this series by a landslide 9-1 on Monday but the Giants came roaring back in game two winning a 5-0 shut out on Tuesday. Wednesday night San Francisco couldn’t get to .500 in this series losing to Los Angeles 10-5.

The Giants faced Dodger ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw who pitched six innings giving up five hits and improved his record to 2-1. San Francisco sent Alex Cobb to the mound who lasted 3.2 innings and gave up eight hits and two runs but was not the pitcher of record in Wednesday’s loss.

Game recap: The Giants got on the scoreboard early 2-0. J.D. Davis hit a sacrifice fly driving Thairo Estrada home for the first run of the game. The Giants would score a second run in the first inning when Darin Ruf doubled and Michael Conforto scored for the 2-0 lead.

Wilmer Flores singled in the second inning extending the Giants lead 3-0 when Joey Bart scored from third base. Alex Cobb had three good innings but ran into some trouble in the fourth inning.

The Dodgers had a couple of hits that got them up on the scoreboard. James Outman singled driving in J.D. Martinez for their first run.

Their second run came when Mookie Betts doubled and David Peralta scored. The Dodgers had snuck right back into this game trailing by a single run 3-2. At this point Cobb was pulled after allowing eight hits and two runs. Scott Alexander took over on the mound relieving Cobb.

In the fifth inning the Giants lead evaporated when slugger Max Muncy homered to center field and this game was tied 3-3. Scott Alexander was relieved by Taylor Rogers.

After walking two runners in the sixth inning Rogers had loaded the bases with no outs. He then faced Freddie Freeman in a pitching battle that ended with a walk after 15 pitches. Trayce Thompson scored and Los Angels had taken the lead 4-3.

It was back to the bullpen and Rogers was out; John Brebbia was in. It was a tough inning for the relief pitcher. Will Smith sacrificed, Chris Taylor scored and this game had turned around 5-3.

San Francisco was struggling to get out of the sixth inning but Dodger Max Muncy had other plans hitting his second home run of the game with two runners on base. Los Angeles had an 8-3 lead after six innings.

Relief pitcher Ross Stripling would take the mound in the seventh inning. More struggles for the Giant’s pitchers as Stripling walked the first at bat and gave up another Dodger home run. The Trayce Thompson homer gave the Dodgers a 10-3 lead.

The Giants got a rally going in the bottom of the seventh. Wilmer Flores singled in a run with a lot of work still for San Francisco. The Giants had two runners on base and two outs but left those runners stranded going into the eighth inning.

The Giants Thairo Estrada knocked one out of the park in the ninth inning. It was just too little too late as San Francisco lost this game and the series.

Stripling closed out this game. The Giants bullpen struggled mightily in this loss. The Giants had ten hits to the Dodgers 13 but they left runners on base and the pitching did the team no favors tonight. The home runs from Los Angles really hurt especially the second Muncy bullet with two runners on base.

This will be the last time these two teams will meet in San Francisco until the final three games of the 2023 season.

Thursday the Giants will have a day off before heading to Detroit for a three game series with the Tigers on Friday starting for San Francisco Sean Manaea (0-0, 4.50) and Detroit no starter has been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 PM at Comerica Park in Detroit.