The reigning National League MVP came through in the clutch again, this time with his first career game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth as the Giants beat the rival Dodgers 2-1.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy was pleased with the end result:
Giants manager Bruce Bochy
Video: CSN Bay Area
“It doesn’t come at a better time than when he hit it. That’s another great comeback for us. That’s the only way you win a game like that. Some good things happened but Buster certainly came through at the right time.”
Posey went 2-for-3, also tying the game with an RBI double in the 6th. He had two of the Giants four hits.
Giants catcher Buster Posey
Video: CSN Bay Area
“It’s a good feeling. It was already a long game for a 1-1 game into the ninth. So it was a good win. We’ve been playing a lot of close ones lately and it was nice to get some close wins in Arizona and then come out with another one tonight.”
Barry Zito had a good outing when you consider he worked out of nearly every conceivable jam.
Zito allowed the leadoff man to reach in every inning he pitched. He pitched into the 6th, scattering six hits, and a run, walking four, and striking out one.
Giants pitcher Barry Zito
Video: CSN Bay Area
“I made some pitches when we needed it and got some big double plays and the guys played great ‘D’. You can’t go out there and do that at this level. I was just fortunate to go out there and hold them down tonight.”
The Dodgers squandered more than their share of opportunities. LA collected 11 hits but only one extra base hit, by Dodgers starter and Giants nemesis Clayton Kershaw in the 5th inning. LA left 13 men on base.
Kershaw said this was a game they wish they’d have won:
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw
Audio: Ryan Leong/SFBay
“It was a tough game I mean we wanted to win that one. He’s their best hitter for a reason. Buster’s a really good player. He made it count tonight. He got their two RBIs and that was the game basically.”
Kershaw scored the lone run for Los Angeles on an RBI single by Nick Punto.
The difference, in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, was that Zito was able to induce a ground ball double play in each of those frames.
Kershaw continues his domination as a “Giant killer.” he did not allow a hit to the Giants until Marco Scutaro’s triple to deep right with one out in the 6th. After Pablo Sandoval grounded out, Posey crushed a Kershaw fastball to the center field wall to bring home Scutaro.
Other than Posey, the rest of the Giants offense was rather anemic.
Kershaw pitched seven innings, allowing three hits and a run, walking three and striking out five. Despite the no-decision, Kershaw is 9-4 with a 1.28 ERA facing the Giants in his career. Kershaw also pitched with a heavy heart having just come off the bereavement list following the passing of his father.
Veteran reliever Ronald Bellasario came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth.
A ground ball specialist, Bellasario primarily throws a sinking fastball. But like curveballs and sliders, sinkers that don’t sink are hit a long way out of the ballpark. And that’s exactly what Posey did on the sixth pitch of his at-bat.
Notes
The win for the Giants was their third walkoff victory of the season. The last Giants walkoff home run was hit by Nate Schierholtz on July 6, 2011 vs. the Padres. … Zito’s run allowed ended his 25 inning home scoreless streak to start the season. The last time he gave up an earned run at home was Sep. 27, 2012 vs. Arizona. … Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez left the game in the 6th inning with a left hamstring injury. Kemp ended an 0-for-29 hitless streak against the Giants with a single in the 7th inning.
