Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Pablo Sandoval stroked a three-run homer as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2, in the middle contest of a three-game set.
Buster Posey and Michael Morse also homered while Hunter Pence contributed two doubles in the Giants' fourth straight win. Madison Bumgarner (1-0), who picked up a no-decision on Opening Day, surrendered two runs on eight hits with 10 strikeouts across 6 1/3 innings.
"We have guys that can hit the long ball," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "We have more power and hopefully it will help us. Madison was terrific against a tough lineup. The defense did a terrific job today."
Andre Either and Juan Uribe each drove in a run and Scott Van Slyke crossed the plate twice for the Dodgers, who have dropped two straight games. Starter Paul Maholm (0-1) lasted only 4 1/3 innings in the defeat, giving up five runs on seven hits with two walks.
"We had some chances, but Madison was tough," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "We weren't able to do enough to win today."
With the bases loaded and one out in the second, Brandon Crawford plated Morse on a fielder's choice to give the Giants a 1-0 lead
The Dodgers tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. Bumgarner struck out Matt Kemp then walked Van Slyke, and Uribe doubled on a line drive to left to bring in Van Slyke and tie the game.
Morse crushed a lead-off solo home run into the left-field seats, making it a 2-1 game in the fourth.
Bumgarner and Angel Pagan both singled to start the top half of the fifth. Two batters later, Sandoval delivered a three-run homer to left, making it a 5-1 game and ending Maholm's outing. Jose Dominguez entered the game to face Posey. The Giants catcher made him pay by smacking a fastball to left for a solo shot.
The Giants went up 7-1 in the sixth. Crawford walked and moved up to second on Bumgarner's sac bunt and Pagan scored him after lacing a line drive to right.
Los Angeles added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Van Slyke, A.J. Ellis, and Dee Gordon all singled to load the bases with one out. Santiago Casilla replaced Bumgarner to face Puig and got him to fly out to right before Either, pinch-hitting for second baseman Justin Turner, smacked a grounder to right which scored Van Slyke. Pence launched a strong throw home and Posey dove to tag out Ellis. Mattingly came out and challenged the play, but the call was upheld.
Game Notes
Pagan has hit safely in each of the first six games this season and has drive in a run in five of those games ... Puig returned to the lineup after being benched in the previous game for showing up late to the ballpark ... The Dodgers went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
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