The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants sure do know how to make the dog days of summer interesting; the two teams continue to switch places atop the NL West. The Dodgers came into the game in first place of the division and left the game in second place after losing to the Giants 2-1.
It was a pitchers duel between Madison Bumgarner (14-7) and Clayton Kershaw (11-7). Both pitchers went eight innings and had ten strikeouts. The only difference is that Kershaw gave up two runs and Bumgarner gave up zero.
In the top of the first, Giants center-fielder Angel Pagan hit a lead-off double to deep-center field. He was moved to third by a sacrifice from Marco Scuttero. Pagan would be brought home by a Pablo Sandoval sac-fly. That would be it for the scoring until the sixth inning when the Giants struck again. With two outs, it would be the same trio of Pagan, Scuttero and Sandoval, all with singles, that would increase the Giants lead to 2-0.
Newly acquired Dodger Hanley Ramirez would score LA's only run with a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth. It was too little, too late. Giants win 2-1.
Starting pitcher Joe Blanton and the Dodgers look to take back the division on Tuesday night against struggling San Francisco pitcher, Tim Lincecum.
For news and analysis on the Dodgers, visit True Blue LA and SB Nation Los Angeles. More information on the Giants can be found at McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.