Giants beat Dodgers 3-2 in 12 innings

SAN FRANCISCO _ Alejandro De Aza’s one-out sacrifice fly scored Marlon Byrd from third base with the winning run in the 12th inning as the San Francisco Giants stayed alive in the National League West with a 3-2 victory that deprived the Los Angeles Dodgers a chance to clinch at AT&T Park on Monday night.tmpplchld The Giants let a lead slip away in the ninth and threw away a chance to beat N.L. ERA leader Zack Greinke for the first time.tmpplchld The Dodgers scored the tying run on a ground out and the Giants went to extra innings in a bid to stay alive for one more day.tmpplchld The sellout crowd at AT&T Park was streaked with more blue than usual. Undoubtedly, some season-ticket holders sold at a profit to archrival fans who came hoping to see the Dodgers clinch an N.L. West title. They’ll do it with just one victory in this four-game series.tmpplchld Jake Peavy planted two determined heels in the sand and refused to let it happen on his watch. Next it would be Madison Bumgarner’s turn, and he’s always comfortable with a rope in his hands _ even when he opposes Clayton Kershaw.tmpplchld Peavy outpitched a leading Cy Young Award contender, and Trevor Brown, a kid who might have stood sixth or seventh on the organizational depth chart at catcher when the season began, lined a two-run double in the second inning as the Giants were poised to win entering the ninth.tmpplchld Josh Osich needed just six pitches to retire three right-handed hitters and bridge the eighth inning _ a trouble spot for the Giants in recent days. But he couldn’t retire either of the lefties he faced in the ninth, as Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez lined singles.tmpplchld Santiago Casilla entered and Justin Turner sacrificed the runners. Then with the Giants infield playing back to reduce the chances of a two-run single sneaking through, the Dodgers made another productive out. Andre Ethier hit a hard grounder that second baseman Kelby Tomlinson backhanded. His only play was to first base as the tying run scored.tmpplchld Chase Utley followed with another hard grounder up the middle, but the Giants were perfectly positioned. Shortstop Brandon Crawford, playing almost astride second base, scooped it and threw to first for the out to send a tie game to the bottom of the ninth.tmpplchld The Giants nearly won in the bottom of the ninth after Buster Posey hit a one-out double and Crawford drew an intentional walk. But Byrd merely advanced the runners with a ground out, and Tomlinson tapped back to first base to end the inning.tmpplchld The Giants have not waved a white flag despite having to throw in the towel on Hunter Pence, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Nori Aoki, Gregor Blanco, Andrew Susac and Hector Sanchez.tmpplchld But their rookies continue to show no stage fright. Brown drilled his double in the second inning, and Tomlinson made the defensive play of the night.tmpplchld Greinke (18-4) entered with a 1.65 ERA and had lost just once in 17 starts dating to mid-June. He was 7-0 in nine previous career starts against the Giants. He did not have an off night.tmpplchld But the lower half of the Giants lineup managed to scratch him in the second inning. Crawford singled, Byrd hit into a fielder’s choice and Tomlinson hit a two-out single. And Brown did not look like a hitter who spent 10 days on his couch after the Triple-A season ended Sept. 7.tmpplchld He laid off a pair of two-strike sliders in the dirt, fouled off another and didn’t miss a 94 mph fastball over the plate, splitting the outfielders in right-center. Tomlinson zoomed around from first base and scored without a play.tmpplchld Greinke did not allow another runner into scoring position in his seven innings. But Peavy barely flinched while completing seven innings for just the third time in his 18 starts.tmpplchld Peavy came out to start the sixth inning and there was no bullpen activity even though he had run into so many sudden flares the third time through the lineup. Tomlinson made a huge contribution, then, when he made a full-extension dive to his right and snared Seager’s hard grounder. The play kept Peavy in the windup while saving him pitches, and he ended up retiring the side in both the sixth and seventh.tmpplchld _ Byrd received five plate appearances and was 18 away from vesting an $8 million option for next season. The Giants have six games remaining.tmpplchld If they are eliminated, the Giants will have every incentive to start Mac Williamson, instead, and get a look at the future. In any event, Giants manager Bruce Bochy made it clear that he would like Byrd back on the roster next season.tmpplchld _ Tim Lincecum is back at AT&T Park and still on crutches 25 days after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery. He has been rehabbing at the Giants’ complex in Arizona and will spend the offseason in that area.tmpplchld _ Ehire Adrianza and Brandon Belt were getting additional evaluations Monday for their concussions, Bochy said.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)tmpplchld Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld