Recap: Los Angeles vs. San Francisco
Sports Network | September 21, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Relief pitcher Brad Hennessey came in as a pinch-runner in the 11th inning, stole his first career base and then scored on Rich Aurilia's single to boost San Francisco to a 1-0 win over the NL West- leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
Eugenio Velez had three hits, including a big infield single in the 11th, for the Giants, who won two of the three games in the weekend series.
The Dodgers, who have six contests remaining, saw their lead in the division trimmed to 2 1/2 games over Arizona. The Diamondbacks won at Colorado, 13-4, earlier Sunday.
Los Angeles has a three-game set at home versus San Diego and then a three- game series at San Francisco to finish the season. Arizona has seven games remaining, starting with four at St. Louis and finishing with three at home versus Colorado.
Matt Cain allowed five hits in six innings for the Giants, while Dodgers starter Derek Lowe fanned seven over seven frames.
Andre Ethier had two of the five hits for the Dodgers, who didn't have a hitter reach base after the sixth inning. Blake DeWitt's single in the sixth was LA's last hit.
Alex Hinshaw threw the seventh inning, Sergio Romo (3-1) the following three frames, and Brian Wilson fanned two in the 11th to notch his 40th save.
Takashi Saito (4-4) was saddled with the loss.
Aaron Rowand singled with one out in the 11th, and after pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval grounded into a force play, Hennessey came on as a pinch-runner and immediately stole second. Velez legged out an infield hit before Aurilia lined a single to left.
It was a case of missed opportunities for the Dodgers, who left the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings. In fact, they had the bags full with nobody out in the opening frame, but James Loney lined out, and Casey Blake and Matt Kemp both fanned.
In the fifth, Andre Ethier singled to center, but Angel Berroa was thrown out at home plate. Manny Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Loney again lined out.
The Giants finished 35-46 on the road this season...The Dodgers lead the season series, 8-7, but the Giants have won four of the last five encounters...Romo has thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings...Cain has fanned a career-best 180 batters this season...The Giants left 12 men on base, while LA stranded eight.
