Bradley’s Single in 12th Gives Dodgers a 5-4 Win

Another Dodger-Giant game, another one-run decision for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers avoided Barry Bonds often and extended their streak over the rival Giants with a 5-4 victory in 12 innings Friday night in front of what remained of a sellout crowd of 54,598 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers outlasted the Giants again in taking the opener of the series after sweeping three games at SBC Park last weekend, capping a 4-hour 5-minute game on Milton Bradley’s run-scoring single to left against Matt Herges.

Cesar Izturis doubled to left-center to start the 12th against Herges (0-2) with No. 3 batter Bradley on deck.

“I was just trying to get on base,” Izturis said. “I was just trying to make contact with two strikes.”

After initially trying to bunt, Bradley slapped Herges’ third pitch into the hole between third and shortstop. Bonds’ throw to the plate was too late to get the sliding Izturis, punctuating the Dodgers’ seventh victory in nine games.

Darren Dreifort (1-0) worked two scoreless innings to complete an outstanding performance from the Dodger bullpen, which worked six scoreless innings -- giving up only one hit -- in relief of starter Odalis Perez.

“They don’t get much better than that game right there,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “The notable thing was the bullpen. I think they only gave up one hit past the seventh inning ... talk about the job they’ve done.”

And the Dodgers breathed a sigh of relief after getting off easy against Bonds.

The Dodgers pitched aggressively against the future Hall of Famer in the teams’ previous series, and Bonds burned them for four home runs and eight runs batted in.

Apparently having learned a lesson, the Dodgers worked cautiously Friday, intentionally walking Bonds a career-high four times. But Bonds went two for two to raise his major league-leading batting average to .525, and he beat a shift to drive in a run in the first.

“Every time he came up, he represented a swing and the go-ahead run,” Tracy said. “We’ve made pitches about as good as you can make, and he’s been putting them in play; pitches most guys wouldn’t even swing at. It’s safe to say that he’s at the point where there’s nothing safe you can do with this guy.”

Dodger closer Eric Gagne, who pitched two innings of scoreless relief, entered in a non-save situation in the ninth. Edgardo Alfonzo popped up to second and Michael Tucker struck out, bringing Bonds to the plate.

Last Friday against Gagne, Bonds hit a two-run homer after an epic at-bat in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory. The All-Star closer didn’t mess with Bonds again, walking him intentionally before facing pinch-hitter Dustan Mohr, who struck out.

Giant left-hander Jason Christiansen retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extra innings.

Neither team managed to put together a scoring threat in the 10th or 11th innings.

The Dodger bullpen survived a one-out, bases-loaded scare in the eighth. Guillermo Mota, in his second inning, walked Jeffrey Hammonds, and A.J. Pierzynski’s infield single put runners on first and second with none out.

After failing to get down a sacrifice bunt, No. 8 hitter Neifi Perez grounded to Mota, who got Hammonds at third. Left-hander Tom Martin entered to face left-handed batter J.T. Snow, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Martin stayed in the game to face switch-hitter Ray Durham, who batted right-handed. Martin showed his mettle, getting Durham to hit back to the mound, starting an inning-ending double play and igniting a celebration in the dugout and stands.

The Dodgers shuffled the rotation after Perez’s eight-inning, two-hit, 10-strikeout performance in last Friday’s victory over the Giants at SBC Park, starting the left-hander in the opener of this series.

Perez wasn’t sharp in a six-inning, 115-pitch outing. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs, and trailed, 4-1, after three innings.

Giant starter Brett Tomko fared better than in his previous performance against the Dodgers, though it wouldn’t have taken much for him to show improvement.

The right-hander was awful in last Sunday’s 7-6 loss, giving up 11 hits -- including three consecutive home runs -- and seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Tomko pitched into the seventh on Friday, working 6 2/3 innings.

Shawn Green’s two-out, two-run homer to dead center in the fifth tied the score at 4-4. Izturis walked with one out and Green connected on a 2-and-2 pitch.