San Francisco Giants shortstop Christian Koss (right) throws out Los Angeles Dodgers Teoscar Hernandez at first after forcing Kyle Tucker at second for a double play in the bottom of the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on Sat Sep 19, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
Saturday night fans flocked to Dodger Stadium for game two between the San Francisco Giants (64-91) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (95-60) and those fans were in for a treat as the Dodgers who played back and forth with the Giants ended up defeating San Francisco 10-4.
The game got underway with temps in the low 70’s on a mostly clear evening. After a very busy offensive game for the Dodgers Friday night with Los Angeles taking game one of the series the Giants will be looking to tie up this series Saturday night.
Los Angeles took up where they left off Friday taking the first lead of the game in the first inning 1-0 and extended that lead in the second inning 2-0. A San Francisco two run home run tied up the game in the third inning. Los Angeles took back the lead with a solo home run 3-2.
This game turned into a real see-saw contest. San Francisco tied the game back up in the top of the fourth inning 3-3 with the Dodgers roaring back in the bottom of the inning taking back the lead 4-3.
Once again San Francisco tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning 4-4. This would be the last run San Francisco would score for the rest of the game The Dodgers would score three runs in the fifth inning and three more runs in the sixth inning taking a 10-4 lead. That would be the final with the Dodgers taking game two 10-4.
GAME RECAP
Los Angeles starting pitcher Tarik Skubal gave up a walk in the top of the first inning but closed it out moving into the bottom of the inning. Leadoff batter Mookie Betts hit a double off San Francisco starting pitcher Yunior Marte to start off the bottom of the inning. Later in the inning Max Muncie doubled driving Betts home for an early 1-0 lead.
The Giants had two runners on base in the top of the second inning; Brett Harris singled and Osleivis Basabe walked but San Francisco left them stranded missing a great opportunity to tie up the game.
Los Angeles did score another run in the bottom of the second. Josue De Paula walked and Alex Freeland singled putting two Dodger runners on base with two outs. A Mookie Betts single drove De Paula home extending their lead to 2-0.
San Francisco would tie up the game in the top of the third inning. Turner Hill singled followed by a Victor Bericoto long ball and the Giants had tied up the game 2-2. The tie was short-lived in the bottom of the inning when first at-bat Wes Smith hit a solo home run and the lead bounced back to the Dodgers 3-2.
San Francisco tied the game back up in the top of the fourth inning 3-3. Knizner singled followed by a Basabe single and the Giants again had two runners on base. Christian Koss hit a sacrifice bunt and Knizner and Basabe advanced to second and third. Jonah Cox also hit a sacrifice bunt and Knizer scored tying up the game.
Again the Dodgers pushed back scoring in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs Freeland walked and the red-hot Mookie Betts doubled Freeland home Los Angeles taking a 4-3 lead.
Once again, the Giants tied the game back up 4-4. Bericoto doubled to start off the top of the fifth inning. Jung Hoo Lee also doubled driving Bericoto home. Los Angeles starting pitcher Skubal got the next three outs and this game went into the bottom of the fifth.
The bottom of the fifth inning proved to be a very lucrative inning for Los Angeles scoring three runs taking a 7-4 lead. Wes Smith singled, Teoscar Hernandez also singled and Kyle Tucker walked.
Earlier Smith had been thrown out on a double play. There was a pitching change for the Giants with Philip Abner relieving Marte. Abner walked De Paula and Tommy Edman singled driving Hernandez and Tucker home and the score was 6-4.
Miguel Rojas singled and De Paula scored and when the dust had settled, the Dodgers had taken a 7-4 lead. Abner had suffered another ill-fated appearance on the mound going 1/3 of an inning.
After going five full innings the Dodgers, Skubal was relieved by Evan Philips in the top of the sixth inning. He struck out two Giants and Christian Koss flied out easily closing out the inning.
Los Angeles would score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 10-4 lead.Betts led off the inning with yet another hit, a double and he scored when Wes Smith singled taking a 8-4 lead.
With two outs the Dodgers continued to drive in runs. Kyle Tucker singled driving Muncy to second and Smith to third and Los Angeles had the bases loaded. A De Paula single drove in Muncy and Smith and the Dodgers were cruising 10-4.
The Giants went three and out in the top of the seventh inning their offense drying up a bit after playing 5 1/2 very competitive innings. It was also a quick inning for the Dodgers not getting a whole of offense. With two innings left in the game a quiet inning was no problem for Los Angeles.
San Francisco was running out of time in this game. Grant McCray walked to start the eighth inning but Whitcomb struck out, Knizner fouled out and Basabe struck out. Max Muncy who was having a great game doubled but that would be all in the eighth for the Dodgers.
Going into the top of the ninth inning, the Giants were down to their final three outs. They would face Dodger’s closer Seth Halvorsen who would try to finish off San Francisco. Koss grounded out, Drew Gilbert advanced to first after getting hit by a pitch. Both Bandura and Bericoto struck out and that was the ball game.
GAME NOTES
After a very competitive start, the San Francisco Giants pitching fell apart. The Giants starter Yunior Marte allowed eight hits, six earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts. Through the top of the fifth inning the Giants were looking good and this game was tied.
Then it all seemed to crumble; Los Angeles took advantage of the traffic on the bases and scored multiple runs after the game was tied at four. The Dodgers would go on to score three runs in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth taking the 10-4 lead.
Betts who has been hitting lights out lately crushed the Giants in both games one and two. San Francisco just couldn’t stop the two Dodger scoring bursts in this game tonight. The fifth and sixth innings gave Los Angeles a six-run cushion and San Francisco never recovered. This game turned into the Betts, Wes Smith and Max Muncy show.
The Giants had shown bits and pieces of some solid offense scoring the four runs and tying the game twice. Victor Bericoto had a great game hitting a home run and he and Jung Hoo Lee both doubled in the fifth inning to tie up the game.
They just couldn’t sustain that offense after the Dodgers took the significant lead. This whole game turned on a dime after the fifth inning. Every time the Giants challenged, every time they tied the game, the Dodgers answered.
The bottom line in this game is that the Giants were competitive early. Their downfall was allowing the Dodgers to turn a tie game into a multi-run lead in the fifth and sixth innings.
Pitching issues for the Giants continue to hamper them in many of these games. They are able to take early leads, play competitively only to let opposing teams back into games with poor showings from the bullpen and lack of offense. San Francisco has now lost the first two games of this series and do not want to get swept in this series with a loss Sunday.
Sunday the Giants will be fighting to avoid a sweep and at least win one game in this series. In the third game of the series Landen Roupp will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 9-14 win/loss record and a 4.01 ERA. Right now the Dodgers are undecided as to who will start on Sunday. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 1:10 PM.
