Dodgers bullpen stumbles in 3-2 loss to Giants
Giants 3, Dodgers 2
KEY MOMENT: Brandon League is guaranteed a combined $17 million over this season and next, which is probably why he is still with the Dodgers and Paco Rodriguez isn’t. Because the Dodgers can’t send League to the minor leagues without his consent, they optioned Rodriguez to triple-A Albuquerque Tuesday to create a roster spot for Brian Wilson. The Dodgers were immediately forced to deal with the consequences of that decision. Saving Wilson for a save situation, Manager Don Mattingly called on League to pitch the 12th inning with the game tied, 2-2. League wasn’t helped by his defense, but he didn’t help himself either. He gave up two hits, including a single to Hector Sanchez that drove in the deciding run.
ON THE MOUND: The Dodgers went into the bottom of the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead, but Kenley Jansen gave up a one-out double to Brandon Belt that drove in Angel Pagan to push the game into extra innings. Starting pitcher Josh Beckett recovered from his rough season debut six days earlier by tossing five scoreless innings. It didn’t come easy. Beckett loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth inning, Beckett escaped by striking out Michael Morse and forcing Brandon Crawford to ground out. In the fifth, he got Buster Posey to fly out to center field for the final out. Beckett left the game with a 1-0 lead, which the Dodgers blew in the sixth inning. In that inning, Chris Withrow gave up a lead-off single to Hunter Pence. A throwing error by Hanley Ramirez on an attempted force out allowed Pence to reach second base. Pence advanced to third on a wild pitch by Withrow and scored on a sacrifice fly by Crawford.
AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers had two leads in the game, both courtesy of Juan Uribe. Uribe hit a solo home run in the second inning to put the Dodgers ahead, 1-0. With the game tied, 1-1, Uribe doubled off reliever Jean Machi to start the seventh inning. Tim Federowicz moved Uribe to second base with a sacrifice bunt. After pinch hitter Matt Kemp drew a walk, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy brought in left-hander Javier Lopez to face Dee Gordon. Mattingly countered by replacing Gordon with right-handed-hitting utilityman Justin Turner, who drove in Uribe with a single up the middle.
EXTRA BASES: As part of Jackie Robinson Day celebrations at AT&T; Park, there was a special pregame ceremony that featured Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully and Giants counterpart Jon Miller introducing their respective team’s lineups.
UP NEXT: Paul Maholm (0-1, 8.10) will face the San Francisco Giants and Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 8.00) at AT&T; Park at 7:15 p.m. On the air: TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570 AM, 1020 AM (Spanish).
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