Recap: San Francisco vs. Los Angeles
Sports Network | September 27, 2008
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Steve Holm hit the game-tying sacrifice fly in the ninth, and Dave Roberts hit an RBI single in the 10th to give San Francisco a wild, 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game set.
Jonathan Broxton entered in the bottom half of the ninth with the Dodgers ahead, 5-4, to close out the game. But San Francisco's Eugenio Velez grounded into a fielder's choice, then took off for second base on a steal. Catcher Russell Martin's throw sailed over the infield and almost past the center fielder to put Velez on third.
After Scott McClain walked, Holm lofted a fly ball to shallow left. Juan Pierre's throw, however, was too weak and wide and the run scored to tie the game at 5-5.
In the extra frame, Tyler Walker (5-8) retired the Dodgers in order to send the Giants to bat. Against Jason Johnson (1-2), Omar Vizquel smacked a two-out double, and Dave Roberts singled to right. The throw was not in time as Vizquel crossed home with the winning run.
San Francisco was only in a position to have to comeback after an improbable Los Angeles comeback. The Dodgers entered the ninth inning trailing, 4-2, but took the lead on a pair of homers. James Loney hit a leadoff shot against Brian Wilson to get Los Angeles within a run.
Pinch-hitter Nomar Garciaparra singled with one out, and pinch-hitter Matt Kemp struck out. Martin came up in another pinch-appearance and blasted a Wilson fastball over the left field fence to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead.
Giants starter Brad Hennessey threw six solid frames, giving up two runs on six hits and a pair of walks, with two strikeouts. Pablo Sandoval went 3-for-4 with a run batted in, while Bengie Molina hit a two-run homer for San Francisco, which had lost three in a row.
Derek Lowe tossed three innings of shutout ball for the Dodgers, who already clinched the NL West title. Jeff Kent hit a two-run homer, while Pierre added a pair of hits.
Kent's homer gave Los Angeles the 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Giants tied the game up on a reversed call. Scott Proctor started the frame for LA and gave up a one-out single to Sandoval.
Molina then stepped up and blasted the ball to right field, and it hit off the top of the tall wall's roof before bouncing back to the field. It was initially called a single, but the umpires conferred to see the replay, ruled it a home run, and the game was tied a 2-2.
In the home seventh the Giants added another pair of runs. Roberts walked and Velez singled with one out against Chan Ho Park before Joe Beimel entered to pitch. Sandoval greeted him with an RBI single, and later Rich Aurilia's sacrifice fly gave San Francisco a 4-2 lead.
It was the 13th homer of the season for both Loney and Martin. Kent's homer was his 12th...The Giants left 10 runners on base, while the Dodgers stranded six.
