After scoring six runs in their first three games of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers had an offensive explosion of sorts Sunday night, scoring seven runs in a 7-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN2. The Dodgers got a good start from Hiroki Kuroda, and backed him with four extra-base hits. The Dodgers hit their first home run of the season, and hit a pair of "triples" that were both basically gift-wrapped by rightfielder Aubrey Huff.
Matt Kemp hit an 84 mph fastball from Barry Zito into the Dodger bullpen in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Kuroda pitched the Dodgers' third quality start in four games tonight, allowing three runs in seven innings for a win in his first start of the season, but left with the game tied at 3-3. But the Dodgers rallied for four runs in the seventh inning, which included a Marcus Thames triple that twisted Huff in every which way. The Dodgers followed Thames with three RBI hits, including a double to the gap by Rafael Furcal.
Jonathan Broxton allowed his second home run of the series, but also saved his third game in four nights. The Giants outhomered the Dodgers 6-1 in the series, but five of their home runs were solo shots. The Dodgers won three of the four games at Dodger Stadium despite getting outscored 19-13. The Giants won 10-0 yesterday.
The Dodgers open an eight-game road trip Tuesday in Colorado. Clayton Kershaw will face Jhoulys Chacin in the opener with the Rockies. The announced attendance was 50,896, when the Dodgers gave away a Snuggie-like sleeved fleece blanket.
For more news and information on the Dodgers or tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.