In what has become a broken record, the Dodgers lost again to the Giants Tuesday night. A two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning by rookie Brandon Belt provided the winning margin, leading San Francisco to a 5-3 victory, the sixth straight defeat by the Dodgers at the hands of the Giants. It is the longest losing streak the Dodgers have had against their rivals since 1969.
The Dodgers got to Madison Bumgarner in the third inning tonight, plating three runs thanks to doubles by James Loney and Tony Gwynn Jr., and a two-run single by Rafael Furcal. The single by Furcal snapped an 0-for-19 slump. However, Bumgarner retired the final 16 batters he faced, lasting eight inning for his fifth win of the season.
Hong-Chih Kuo took the loss, his first of the season, as he served up the double to Belt in the seventh. It was preceded by a single and two intentional walks, and followed by another walk. Kuo allowed eight runs in 60 innings last season, putting up the lowest ERA in the history of the franchise, but this year has given up 14 runs in 11 2/3 innings.
The Dodgers have lost four straight overall, and dropped a season-worst 14.5 games behind San Francisco in the National League West. Belt has two home runs and seven RBI in eight games against the Dodgers in his first season, and nothing in 12 games against everyone else. Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum face off in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.