LOS ANGELES -AP- After a forgettable April, the San Francisco Giants have begun a possible turnaround in just the right place -- at the home of their biggest division rival.
Brandon Belt and Gorkys Hernandez each singled in a run in the 11th inning after Jeff Samardzija's excellent start, and the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday night to take two of three in the series.
San Francisco went 9-17 in April and remains in last place in the NL West.
"This has to be a better month," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
 
Samardzija throws gem, Giants beat Dodgers 4-1 in 11 innings
 
"This pushes us in the right direction and gives us a boost of confidence."
Hunter Pence also had a sacrifice fly in the 11th. Joe Panik, whose earlier error led to the Dodgers' run in the sixth, started the rally against Grant Dayton (1-1) with a single.
Samardzija held Los Angeles to an unearned run in eight innings. He gave up only three hits, struck out 11 and did not walk a batter.
"He was just on top of his game tonight," Bochy said. "He had a great look about him."
Steven Okert (1-0) threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory. Mark Melancon pitched the 11th for his sixth save. Okert also threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Monday.
"What a great job by him," Bochy said. "He just got into the right rhythm in L.A."
Samardzija had retired 14 consecutive Dodgers when slumping Yasiel Puig (one extra-base hit in his last 56 at-bats) led off the sixth with a pop-up, and Panik sprinted from second base toward the right field line and had the ball land in his glove just before he took a step out of play -- only for it to bounce out of his glove for an error.
Puig, watching the play develop, broke into a gallop. When the ball dropped, he ran past second and into third, just ahead of the throw. Pinch hitter Chris Taylor got just enough of Samardzija's slider to lace it down the first base line for a single to score Puig.
The Giants tied it in the eighth when Pence singled, moved two bases on a wild pitch from Ros
 

Comments are closed.