Dodgers forced to fight through injuries vs. Giants
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be hounded by injuries, with a hamstring ailment to shortstop Hanley Ramirez just the latest setback.
The hobbled Dodgers try to avoid a third straight loss on Saturday night as they visit the San Francisco Giants for the second contest of a three-game series.
Appearing in just his fourth game of the season after sitting out the start of the campaign due to a thumb injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic, Ramirez exited Friday's 2-1 loss with a serious hamstring injury in the sixth contest. He was hurt while getting thrown out at third base and had to be helped off the field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's not like he's going to be back in a couple of days," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Ramirez's injury.
Los Angeles' lineup was already without regulars Adrian Gonzalez (stiff neck), Mark Ellis (strained right quad) and Carl Crawford (right hamstring), though Crawford was able to pinch hit in last night's loss.
Still, the Dodgers managed 11 hits to just four by the Giants, but the only run for the club came on a single in the fifth inning by Nick Punto that scored starter Clayton Kershaw.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Los Angeles went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Kershaw did his best, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning after being activated from the bereavement list. He gave up a one-out triple in the frame to Marco Scutaro, who then scored on Buster Posey's double.
Posey drove in both runs for the Giants as he later connected on his first career walk-off homer, which came against Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He's been tough on Buster. He got a pitch he could handle and got the head out," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's another great comeback for us."
The Giants won their fourth game in a row.
The field isn't the only place where injuries are impacting the Dodgers as starters Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, Stephen Fife and Ted Lilly are all out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lilly was slated to start this game before landing on the disabled list Friday due to a strained rib-cage muscle. Rookie right-hander Matt Magill will get the call in his place for his second career start.
Magill filled in for Fife last Saturday and did not factor into a 6-4 loss. The 23-year-old was solid, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings of work, striking out seven.
Ryan Vogelsong will look to bounce back tonight for the Giants after struggling with the longball last time out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The right-hander served up three homers -- a pair of two-run shots and a solo blast -- in a loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday. In all, Vogelsong was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and three walks over five innings.
Vogelsong has been touched for at least four earned runs in four of his five starts this year while going 1-2 with a 6.23 earned run average.
The 35-year-old dominated the Dodgers during his 14-win campaign last season. He went 2-1 against them in four starts with a 0.71 ERA and no homers allowed. Of the current Dodgers, only Matt Kemp has ever homered off Vogelsong.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Giants took two of three from L.A. in the season-opening series last month. In fact, the Giants have not lost a head-to-head series with the Dodgers since the 2009 season.