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Buster Posey’s walk-off single gives Giants 2-1 win over Dodgers

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SAN FRANCISCO – Thanks to some timely hitting from Buster Posey and dominant pitching from Madison Bumgarner, the San Francisco Giants (13-18) defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers (20-13) by a score of 2-1 on Wednesday night.

On a crisp San Francisco evening, the Giants, despite the recent offensive woes that have plagued the beginning of their 2019 campaign, came out of the gates swinging.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, first-baseman Brandon Belt started the game off by putting runs on the board. With runners on second and third, Belt hit a sacrifice fly deep into Triples Alley, sending right-fielder Stephen Duggar home. Left-fielder Tyler Austin was stranded at third, and the Giants had an early 1-0 lead.

Bumgarner started hot as well, recording three strikeouts in three hitless innings, and even in loading the bases full in the fourth. He was able to get the Giants out of dodge and into the fifth inning without allowing a run.

Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu would not be outdone. After a shaky first inning, Ryu seemingly found his rhythm. Recording four strikeouts through four innings, Ryu allowed only one hit after the first, and guided the Dodgers safely into the second half of the ballgame.

In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers bats came to life

After a leadoff double from second-baseman Kiké Hernandez, Dodgers cleanup-hitter Cody Bellinger drove Hernandez in with an infield single. A peculiar play, Bellinger slightly tapped it down the first-base line, and even with a spectacular diving save from Brandon Belt, Hernandez was able to score, as he was stealing third on that pitch.

With that, the game was tied 1-1, and Giants starter Madison Bumgarner’s night was over, allowing one earned run on four hits, and recording eight strikeouts in six innings of work.

Things got a little dicey for Giants reliever Reyes Moranta in the top half of the seventh, as two runners were in scoring position with one out Thanks to good defense and two crucial strikeouts, Moranta skated by the inning without allowing any damage.

Controversy arose in the bottom of the seventh when on a questionable strike call from home plate umpire Tim Timmons, Bochy was promptly ejected after arguing the call – his second ejection of the year. Despite Bochy’s fire and emotion from an apparent missed call, he could not ignite the Giants offense, as Ryu’s dominance continued and he closed out the inning.

After another clean inning from Ryu, the starter’s night came to an end after eight innings, allowing only one run and recording six strikeouts.

Giants closer Will Smith entered the game to hold the Dodgers scoreless, and after a timely 4-6-3 double play, the Giants had the chance to snatch a win in the bottom of the ninth against Dodgers reliever Julio Urias.

And that they did.

With runners on first and second and two outs, Giants catcher Buster Posey sent Oracle Park into a frenzy, looping a single into left field, scoring Duggar from second, and clinching the Giants’ 13th win of the season.

Giants closer Will Smith earned his first win of the season, while Dodger reliever Pedro Baez (2-2) took the loss, moving his ERA to 3.94 on the season.

The Giants now begin a road-trip, where they will take on the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night with newly brought up Tyler Beede taking the mound.