SAN FRANCSICO—Max Muncy hit a three-run homer and a solo shot to finish a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants with four homers and 11 RBIs, leading Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10–5 victory Wednesday night, April 12.
Kershaw (2–1) allowed two earned runs and five hits over six innings, hanging tough until the Dodgers started slugging. He struck out four and walked two to help them take two of three in the series.
Los Angeles rallied in the fifth on four straight walks against Taylor Rogers (0–1), with Freddie Freeman drawing a bases-loaded free pass to bring home Trayce Thompson for the go-ahead run.
Thompson added a two-run homer less than a mile from the arena where his NBA star brother Klay plays for the defending champion, playoff-bound Golden State Warriors.
Muncy hit a grand slam and a three-run drive in Monday’s 9-1 win. He has found his power swing again after making some tweaks to his mechanics when he started the year 1 for 16 and 4 for 33.
His 11th career multi-homer game and Thompson’s drive gave the Dodgers 24 homers, and they have cleared the fence in all but two of their 13 games.
Muncy has 25 home runs and 55 RBIs in 75 games against the Giants. He got most of the night off Tuesday when San Francisco blanked the reigning NL West champions—snapping Los Angeles’ six-game winning streak in the rivalry. The Dodgers have won 14 of the last 16 meetings.
J.D. Martinez tripled leading off the fourth and scored on a single by James Outman. Will Smith provided a sacrifice fly in the decisive five-run sixth.
Thairo Estrada homered in the ninth for San Francisco, which squandered an early 3–0 lead.
Kershaw Chases 200
Kershaw earned his 199th career win—with 200 still a big number if you ask Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, even if people are “putting less value on that.”“I still believe that there’s something to that, a lot to that, and certainly in Clayton’s case being able to go long enough to get a decision, to pitch long enough to earn those wins,” Roberts said. “That’s very telling for a future Hall of Famer.”
Ruf Returns
The Giants brought back infielder/outfielder Darin Ruf, who was added to the major league roster.He batted fifth as the designated hitter and had an RBI double and single.
Ruf got about 10 at-bats in extended spring training to get ready after being released by the Mets at the end of spring training.
“A familiar new player,” manager Gabe Kapler said.
Ruf was traded to New York by the Giants at the deadline last year and he batted just .152 with seven RBIs in 74 plate appearances over 28 games.
“The hugs I got to give today were a lot better than the hugs I got to give back in August,” he said.
Trainer’s Room
Dodgers: SS Miguel Rojas exited with a left hamstring cramp. RHP Tony Gonsolin, dealing with a forearm strain, threw a 31-pitch bullpen and is set to face hitters on Friday.Up Next
RHP Noah Syndergaard (0–1, 6.30 ERA) pitches for Los Angeles in Friday’s series opener against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium.The Giants hadn’t announced a scheduled starter for their series opener Friday at Detroit.
