Dodgers Beat Giants 8-2, Chase Top NL Seed
Dodgers Beat Giants 8-2, Chase Top NL Seed
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Key Points
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The Giants’ lineup was further weakened when Bryce Eldridge was scratched about an hour before first pitch with a head laceration. San Francisco also played without Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman and Willy Adames; only Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Gilbert had appeared in at least 100 games that season.
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The Dodgers’ four-homer eighth inning came entirely against Giants reliever Philip Abner, who became the first San Francisco pitcher since Alan Embree in 2001 to allow at least four homers in one game.
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Tyler Glasnow’s performance was especially notable because he had made only four starts since returning from a four-month absence caused by a back injury. Before Friday, he had allowed four runs in each of his previous two starts and had left the team’s travel early to avoid taking two flights.
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Kyle Tucker entered the game in strong recent form despite a difficult overall season: he was 12-for-29 with four homers and 10 RBIs over his previous eight games. After clinching the division, Tucker said the Dodgers’ goal since spring training had been to reach and win the World Series.
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The Dodgers and Giants were scheduled to meet six times across the final 10 days of the regular season, although Los Angeles had entered the series with only a 3-4 record against San Francisco in their previous seven meetings that year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the San Francisco Giants 8-2 at Dodger Stadium, extending their winning streak after clinching a fifth consecutive NL West title. Sacramento Bee reported that Mookie Betts hit two leadoff home runs while the Dodgers erupted for four homers in the eighth inning alone. The victory keeps Los Angeles two games behind Milwaukee for the National League's top seed.
Tyler Glasnow was especially sharp for the Dodgers, striking out 10 batters over six innings in only his fifth start since returning from a four-month back injury. San Francisco's depleted lineup, missing key players and playing without Bryce Eldridge after he was scratched with a head laceration about an hour before first pitch, could not keep pace.
Mookie Betts and Late-Inning Explosion Sink Giants
Betts set the tone early with two solo home runs leading off for Los Angeles. But the real damage came in the eighth inning when Max Muncy, Kyle Tucker, and Will Smith all went deep against Giants reliever Philip Abner. Lancaster Online noted that Abner became the first San Francisco pitcher since Alan Embree in 2001 to allow at least four homers in a single game.
The Giants mounted an early challenge. Jung Hoo Lee and Jonah Cox drove in runs to give San Francisco a brief lead. But Los Angeles' balanced attack — featuring multiple power hitters — proved too much for the weakened Giants roster to contain.
Glasnow Shows Promise Despite Limited Recent Work
Glasnow's 10 strikeouts marked a strong comeback performance for the Dodgers ace. News-Gazette reported that before this game, Glasnow had allowed four runs in each of his previous two starts since his return. The pitcher had even left the team's travel early to avoid taking two flights, showing caution with his injury recovery.
His ability to pitch deep into games without allowing damage gives the Dodgers confidence heading into October baseball, when the rotation's health becomes critical. Los Angeles faces ongoing injury concerns with Blake Snell dealing with a groin issue.
Tucker Thriving Lately as Dodgers Eye World Series
Kyle Tucker entered Friday in hot form, going 12-for-29 with four home runs and 10 RBIs over his previous eight games, despite a difficult overall season. Star-Telegram reported that Tucker said the Dodgers' goal since spring training had been to reach and win the World Series. His recent surge suggests Los Angeles may be peaking at the right time.
The Dodgers now sit four games ahead of Atlanta for a top-two seed and a first-round bye. They have six more meetings with San Francisco across the final 10 days of the regular season, though Los Angeles entered this series with only a 3-4 record against the Giants in their previous seven matchups this year.
Giants' Injury Crisis Deepens Before Playoff Push
San Francisco's roster took another hit when Bryce Eldridge was scratched about an hour before first pitch with a head laceration. Mahoning Matters noted that the Giants also played without Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Willy Adames — key contributors now missing from their lineup. Only Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Gilbert had appeared in at least 100 games all season.
This depleted roster made it nearly impossible for San Francisco to compete with a healthy Dodgers team firing on all cylinders. As the regular season winds down, the Giants face the challenge of getting healthy while the defending NL West champions seem to be rounding into playoff form.
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