Dodgers vs. Giants game recap: Los Angeles falls short in 9th inning, out of playoffs

The Los Angeles Dodgers will not make the playoffs in 2012 following their tough 4-3 loss to the Giants on Tuesday night. The club had plenty of opportunities to break through, but a huge baserunning blunder from Mark Ellis and some untimely hitting in the ninth kept L.A. from a late rally.

The Giants led 4-1 entering the seventh inning. With one on and no outs, A.J. Ellis skied a ball to deep center field. Angel Pagan appeared to have a beat on the ball, but it carried over the wall to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Ellis followed and hit a ball to the left-center field gap. It appeared he had an easy double, but the second baseman inexplicably went for a triple and was thrown out by a mile. Shane Victorino then followed with a triple down the line; Ellis could have walked home on the hit, but instead he was out in the dugout. It was a huge miscue for the Dodgers and kept them from tying the game. Victorino was left on third base after Matt Kemp struck out swinging.

Andre Ethier singled to lead off the ninth inning, which prompted Bruce Bochy to get Sergio Romo out of the bullpen. A.J. Ellis struck out swinging after failing to get a bunt down. Bobby Abreu then flew out to left field for the second out. Dee Gordon, who came on as a pinch runner for Ethier, stole second to put the game-tying run in scoring position. Mark Ellis came up with the game on the line and flied out to shallow center field to end Los Angeles' season.

Clayton Kershaw will look to solidify his Cy Young resumé on Wednesday as the Dodgers play game No. 162.