Giants edge Dodgers, 3-2, with a run in ninth inning

KEY MOMENT: Chris Hatcher served up a one-out single to Buster Posey in the ninth inning, then plunked Justin Maxwell. The ball that struck Maxwell also struck catcher A.J. Ellis on his throwing hand, forcing him out of the game. J.P. Howell replaced Hatcher and promptly gave up a single to Brandon Belt that loaded the bases. Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly unsuccessfully argued that pinch-runner Gregor Blanco should have been out at third since he made physical contact with third base coach Roberto Kelly, who flashed a stop sign. On the very next at-bat, Joe Panik drove in Blanco with a sacrifice fly.

AT THE PLATE: Pinch-hitter Alex Guerrero tied the score, 2-2, with a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the top of the seventh inning. Batting in place of Clayton Kershaw, Guerrero launched a ball into the left-field stands to knock out Giants starter Madison Bumgarner from the game. Guerrero, who is batting .438 in a limited role, also drove in the Dodgers’ first run the previous night.

ON THE MOUND: Clayton Kershaw limited the Giants to two runs and three hits over six innings. He struck out nine and walked one. Yimi Garcia and Paco Rodriguez combined to pitch a scoreless seventh inning and Hatcher pitched a scoreless eighth.

LATEST ADDITION: The Dodgers purchased left-hander Xavier Cedeno from the Washington Nationals with the intention of adding him to their 25-man roster. Cedeno, 28, pitched in two games for the Nationals this season and gave up two runs in three innings. He has a 5.24 earned-run average in 77 career appearances. Cedeno is expected to join the Dodgers on Friday when they open a three-game series in San Diego, said Andrew Friedman, the president of baseball operations. “He’s performed well in the minor leagues,” Friedman said. “He’s got a good feel for pitching, we feel like.”

KERSHAW SPECIAL: The Dodgers are selling limited number of reserve-level tickets for their April 29 home game against the Giants for $22. The first 40,000 fans in attendance for that game will receive a Kershaw fleece blanket. To purchase the discounted tickets, visit dodgers.com/22. The offer expires Thursday.

UP NEXT: Mike Bolsinger (1-6, 5.50 ERA in 2014) will face the Giants and Ryan Vogelsong (0-1, 10.45) at AT&T Park at 12:45 p.m. On the air: TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.