Suddenly, it's the San Francisco Giants who look like the best team in the National League. And it's the Dodgers who need to find a way to break their slump.
The Giants pounded on Nathan Eovaldi for a four-run first, and they never looked back in creaming the Dodgers, 8-0. The Dodgers are still in first place in the NL West, but it's only by two games now.
The Dodgers have done a lot of good things this season, but one area that they've struggled in is grounding into double plays. In fact, they lead all of baseball in that. Sure enough, after Dee Gordon led off with a walk (which is a pretty shocking experience), Elian Herrera grounded into the DP, and the Dodgers went down quietly.
Right away, the Giants set the tone for the rest of the night, and perhaps for this three-game series when it's all said and done. It started on an infield single by Ryan Theriot, in which Gordon made a good stop, but couldn't make the throw. Melky Cabrera singled for two on. Angel Pagan bounced one off the first base bag for an RBI double and 1-0 lead.
Things wouldn't get any better from there. Pablo Sandoval is back from the DL and starting to pick up steam again. His two-run double to right made it 3-0. Hector Sanchez found room in center for an RBI single, and the Dodgers were in an early 4-0 hole.
Juan Rivera and A.J. Ellis both worked walks in the second, but nothing came of it. Eovaldi was obviously frustrated at this point, as he walked Barry Zito leading off. Things went from bad to worse. Gregor Blanco singled to put two on before Theriot grounded into a fielder's choice. Three straight RBIs came next on singles by Cabrera and Pagan, and a sac-fly from Sandoval. Add it all up, and the Giants were ahead 7-0.
For all intents and purposes, the game was over from there. The Dodgers managed only five hits all game, and the only one for extra-bases was Tony Gwynn's double in the ninth, where he was stranded on James Loney's groundout to second to end the game. Gee, Loney with a groundout to second, I'm shocked!
The Giants scored the game's final run in the sixth when Sanchez doubled home Sandoval to make it 8-0.
Eovaldi has been really good this season, but hasn't gotten much run support. Well, he was awful in this one, and still didn't get any support regardless. He somehow made it through five innings for 10 hits, eight runs, one walk, and one strikeout. Give the Giants credit - they were aggressive against him, and also got a couple bounces to go their way.
I'm not worried about Eovaldi, because his stuff is too good, and he seems like he's tough enough to let this one go. But, the offense is a cause for concern, as they can't seem to get anything going lately. It seems as if one thing may go right, but the other thing goes wrong. For example, Gordon reached base three times and stole a base. Herrera, hitting second, pulled an o'fer and grounded into a double play.
Then there's Juan Uribe and Loney. Uribe made his return from the DL on June 11 and has five hits all month. That's right, five freakin' hits. That's good for a blistering .143 this month. Absolutely pathetic. Loney isn't much better, as he's hitting .232 this month, and continues to underachieve. Actually, he probably isn't good enough to be labeled an "underachiever." He just plain stinks. Defensively, both men are good, and that shouldn't be overlooked. But the Dodgers seriously need upgrades at the corner infield positions. Enough is enough!
Right now, all of the momentum is clearly on the Giants' side, much like the Dodgers had it for most of this season. The Dodgers aren't facing Matt Cain this series, so if they drop two of three or get swept, that will look even worse. Thankfully they have Clayton Kershaw going tonight. He'll go against the solid, and even underrated, Ryan Vogelsong. Let's see if the pitching matchup lives up to its billing, or if the runs will be flowing.
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