A Father's smile can light up an entire day.
The sun broke through the cloudy skies late in the game on Sunday, but by that time the Dodgers day was already overcast, as they lost the series finale with the rival San Francisco Giants, 4-1, on Father's Day.
Following back-to-back victories on Friday and Saturday that saw Matt Kemp and Enrique Hernandez homer in each game, it was San Francisco who hit the longballs on Sunday.
Nick Hundley and Brandon Belt each hit a two-run homer as the Giants lit up rookie starter Caleb Ferguson.
Ferguson (0-1) was making his third career Major League start, but will have to wait to earn his first career win, as he surrendered four runs (three earned) on two hits (both homers), with six strikeouts and one walk in a season-high five innings.
"I made a lot better pitches this time around," said Ferguson of his third start. "I made one mistake pitch with that changeup in the first inning. But definitely it was a lot better than my previous starts."
Ferguson also recorded his first career hit—a single to right field—in the bottom of the third inning.
"I almost got thrown out at first base," laughed Ferguson of the hit. "It was fun to get the first one out of the way and go hit now."
Ferguson was about to escape the first inning unscathed after striking out Andrew McCutchen for the second out, but Hundley got a hold of a 2-2 changeup for a towering shot to left field that gave the Giants an early 2-0 lead.
Hundley finished the game going 1-for-3 with a walk, and has reached base safely in eight of his last nine games. Since May 27, he is batting .290 with three runs, one double, one triple, three homers and eight RBI.
The Dodgers got one back in the bottom half of the inning when Hundley tried to pick off Justin Turner at second base, but the throw went into center field, allowing Max Muncy to score from third.
"That was a great read by Justin with the ball in the dirt," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts of the lone run L.A. scored in the game. "Hundley picked it clean and somehow Crawford missed it."
Belt broke the game open in the top of the third inning when he sent a fastball from Ferguson into the seats in left-center for his 12th homer of the season.
Belt has hit well in his last 20 games, batting .342 with 15 runs, five doubles, six homers and 16 RBI.
"Today was his best outing," said Roberts of Ferguson. "He just made two mistakes. Outside of that I thought he pitched really well."
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San Francisco starter Chris Stratton had struggled against the Dodgers in his career, with a record of 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA (12 runs in 11.2 IP) in three previous starts against the Boys in Blue.
However, Stratton (8-4) was stellar on Sunday, allowing one unearned run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts in six innings. Easily his best start against the Dodgers in his career.
Hunter Strickland recorded the final two outs of the ninth for his 14th save of the season.
Los Angeles fell to 11-9 in day games this season and are now behind in the season series with San Francisco, 6-7. The two rivals will meet six more times before the year ends.
The Dodgers season-high five-game winning streak was snapped.
Do It For Dad
Both teams wore special light blue Father’s Day caps and uniforms, while all players and on-field personnel will wear the symbolic blue ribbon on their uniforms along with blue wristbands in honor of Father’s Day and to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer.
Up Next:
The Dodgers will travel to Chicago after the game where they will take on the Cubs at Wrigley Field for a three-game series with their NLCS foe. RHP Kenta Maeda will start opposite RHP Tyler Chatwood with first pitch scheduled for 5:05PM PST.
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