Dodgers Vs. Giants Preview: NL West First Place On The Line
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ took the first of the three-game set against the rival San Francisco Giants on Friday with an 8-1 victory.
Clayton Kershaw now takes the mound for the Dodgers in search of his 12th win of the season. Kershaw has been stellar in the month of July, recording two wins while only allowing four runs and 11 hits.
He faced the Giants earlier this season at Dodger Stadium and gave up three runs in seven innings. The All-Star southpaw has yet to throw at AT&T Park in 2014, but is familiar with the territory. He boasts a career-record of 6-2 and 0.78 ERA at the ballpark.
Ryan Vogelsong draws the start for the Giants and looks for sixth win. Vogelsong, who is coming off a year where he fractured his right hand on May of 2013, has had a frustrating season thus far.
The 37-year-old right-hander is 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 20 starts. Vogelsong has faced the Dodgers three times this season and holds a 3.12 ERA against the Boys in Blue.
If the Dodgers are able to duplicate Friday’s offensive explosion, it should once again bode well for them. Yasiel Puig led the charge, going 4-for-5 with three triples and two RBIs.
Puig was also slotted in center field for the seventh time in his career. Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp combined to go 5-for-9 with four RBIs, and Dee Gordon chipped in with his 10th triple of the season, which is tops in the Majors.
Conversely, the Giants’ offense was quieted as they managed just one run. Their lone score didn’t come until two outs in the ninth inning.
Manager Don Mattingly is using the same lineup as Friday’s which means Puig earns a second consecutive start in center field. A win on Saturday will move the Dodgers into first place in the NL West.
Dodgers Lineup:
2B: Gordon
CF: Puig
1B: Gonzalez
SS: Ramirez
LF: Crawford
RF: Kemp
3B: Uribe
C: Ellis
P: Kershaw
Giants Lineup:
RF: Pence
CF: Blanco
C: Posey
3B: Sandoval
LF: Morse
1B: Duvall
2B: Uggla
SS: Crawford
P: Vogelsong
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