The Los Angeles Dodgers got hammered by the San Francisco Giants, 10-0 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Matt Cain pitched six scoreless innings to earn his third win in his last four starts against the Dodgers. That's not bad for someone who lost his first eight career decisions against the Dodgers. "He's always difficult," Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly said of Cain. "Over the last couple of years, he really uses all of his pitches, and is turning into a handful."
Ted Lilly was knocked out in the fifth inning after giving up three consecutive two-out hits. However, the game was still manageable at that point at 4-0, but the Giants put things away with four more runs in the sixth inning. However, with today's Dodger lineup, it may not have mattered. The Dodgers started three regulars today: Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and James Loney. Rafael Furcal and Rod Barajas were given days off, and Juan Uribe sat out his second straight day with a sore elbow. Xavier Paul started in left field, the Dodgers third leftfielder in three games.
Freddy Sanchez had three hits, including a double, home run, and a walk for the Giants. The Giants pounded out 13 hits and four walks, including going 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position. San Francisco was 1-for-7 with RISP in the first two games of the series.
Kenley Jansen had the worst outing of his brief career, laboring through a 42-pitch sixth inning. Jansen, who allowed just two runs in 27 innings last season, allowed four runs today, on four hits and two walks, and the ball was hit hard off him throughout the inning. Both Jansen and Mattingly chalked up the effort to Jansen falling behind in counts.
Lance Cormier had a "take one for the team" outing, pitching the final three innings after the Dodgers were trailing 8-0. Sunday night, if needed, the Dodgers will be able to use everyone in the bullpen outside of Jansen and Cormier. Hiroki Kuroda and Barry Zito will start the series finale tomorrow night on ESPN2.
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