Max Muncy's first-inning home run was all starting pitcher Walker Buehler needed as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers earned a fiery 1-0 victory Sunday over the rival San Francisco Giants.
Buehler (7-1) gave up five hits over seven scoreless innings with a walk and nine strikeouts as the Dodgers rallied to win the three-game series after a defeat on Friday. Los Angeles is unbeaten in 11 consecutive series (9-0-2) while winning for the ninth time in their past 11 games.
Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (3-6) was nearly as good as Buehler, giving up one run on four hits over seven innings with a walk and five strikeouts. The home run he allowed into McCovey Cove by Muncy, the second batter of the game, seemingly brought out an edge in the veteran left-hander.
Thinking Muncy took too long to go into his home run trot, Bumgarner shouted at the Dodgers' left-handed hitter before Muncy even reached first base. Muncy first reacted by brushing his hands toward Bumgarner as he approached first base, then appeared to invite the pitcher for a physical altercation as he jogged between first and second base.
The two shouted at each other off and on until Muncy crossed the plate, with plate umpire Will Little getting involved by approaching Bumgarner near the mound in an attempt to restore peace. The homer was the 13th of the season for Muncy.
The Giants had their opportunities but went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. San Francisco's best chance to score came in the sixth inning when they had Mike Yastrzemski on third base and Evan Longoria at first with nobody out.
Pablo Sandoval then sent a hard smash that Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner fielded on a short hop while on one knee before throwing home as Yastrzemski was retired in a rundown. Buehler escaped the jam by getting Stephen Vogt on a line drive and Kevin Pillar on a flyout to center field.
Dodgers right-hander Pedro Baez pitched a scoreless eighth inning before closer Kenley Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth inning for his 19th save.
The Dodgers won despite not putting a runner in scoring position the entire game. Los Angeles' Cody Bellinger went 0-for-9 in the series with three strikeouts, but he did walk four times.
The Giants lost a one-run game for just the sixth time in 20 opportunities this season.
--Field Level Media
LA Dodgers | San Francisco | |
Walker Buehler | Player | Madison Bumgarner |
Win | W/L | Loss |
7.0 | IP | 7.0 |
9 | Strikeouts | 5 |
5 | Hits | 4 |
0.00 | ERA | 1.29 |
LA Dodgers | San Francisco | |
Max Muncy | Player | Evan Longoria |
2 | Hits | 1 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
5 | TB | 1 |
.667 | Avg | .333 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
LA Dodgers | 6 | 1 | 9 | .200 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
San Francisco | 5 | 0 | 6 | .156 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |