Posey's Grand Slam Pummels Dodgers, Giants Win 9-5

Buster Posey hit a grand slam and the Giants got four more in the seventh as San Francisco pummeled the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 on Friday night.

Posey's grand slam came in the third inning off Dodgers starter Mike Bolsinger who lost for the first time at home all season. Brandon Crawford and Matt Duffy each had two RBIs as San Francisco took the opening game of a three-game set, and their eighth victory overall against LA this season.

"We've been playing very sound baseball against them," Posey said of the matchup with the Dodgers. "That's what wins games for you."

The Dodgers got on the board in the bottom of the second when Yasmani Grandal singled home Howie Kendrick to give LA an early 1-0 lead. The run snapped a string of 32 consecutive scoreless innings against San Francisco. It was the second longest streak in Dodgers history (33 innings vs. Pittsburgh Pirates).

The lead would be short lived as the Giants blew the game open on one swing in the top half of the third. Posey hit an 81 MPH Curveball from Bolsinger into the Dodgers bullpen for a grand slam. It was Posey's third grand slam of his career and 10th homer of the season.

"I was just trying to stay small there with two strikes and not try and do too much," Posey said. "Fortunately, I got a pitch that stayed up and hit the home run."

The Dodgers chipped away at the Giants lead in the bottom half of the inning as Joc Pederson and Justin Turner hit back-to-back doubles. Adrian Gonzalez followed with an RBI single and LA only trailed by one run.

San Francisco added an insurance run in the sixth thanks to the "Brandon Boys." Brandon Belt and Brandown Crawford hit consecutive doubles to give the Giants a 5-3 lead.

Bolsinger (4-2) dropped his first game at Dodger Stadium allowing a season high five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Bolsinger was 4-0 with a 1.01 at Chavez Ravine entering the game.

"This was reminiscent of my last outing in San Diego. I'm cruising along, I get two outs, and then suddenly I work my way into a bases-loaded jam," Bolsinger said. "The good thing is its self-inflicted, and I can learn from it."

The Dodgers bullpen imploded after that as the combination of Daniel Columbe and Josh Ravin surrendered four runs on four hits with two walks over the sixth and seventh innings.

Turner dialed long distance with a solo shot off George Kontos in the bottom of the eighth inning. Turner went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored in his first game in the three-hole. Turner batted third in the Dodgers lineup after Yasiel Puig was inserted to the leadoff spot, moving Pederson to second.

"I believe you're going to get pitched the same way no matter where you are in the order," Turner said. "Never once have I heard 'this guy is htting third tonight, so let's pitch him differently than when he was hitting fifth,' so it really doesn't matter where I'm at in the order."

After a pinch-hit RBI single by Alberto Callaspo in the bottom of the ninth, Giants manager Bruce Bochy called to the bullpen and brought in his closer, Santiago Casilla. Casilla struck out Yasiel Puig to end the game, earning the easiest save of his career, and 19th overall on the season.

"I just decided I would make the change there," Bochy said. "It became a save opportunity and I liked the matchup with Puig coming up."

Casilla has been lights out against Los Angeles the past two years, tossing 14.2 innings of scoreless relief against the Dodgers with a record of 5-0 with four saves in that span. The last time the Dodgers scored a run off Casilla was on Sept. 26, 2013.

Giants' rookie Chris Heston (7-5) who threw a no-hitter against the New York Mets last Tuesday was making his first career start against the Dodgers. Heston didn't have no-hitter stuff, but was serviceable, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings, becoming the first Giants rookie pitcher to beat the Dodgers since Madison Bumgarner.

With the victory, the Giants move within 1.5 games of the Dodgers for first place in the NL West. The two teams will resume their rivalry with first place on the line when they take the field on Saturday at 4:15PM.

Game Notes:
San Francisco has dominated the Dodgers this season winning 8 out of their last 10 games against Los Angeles this year.

The Giants also have the League's top road winning percentage at .588 (20-14) on the year.

Pedro Baez, Joel Peralta, and Brandon League each made rehab apperances in Triple-A Oklahoma City today.

It was the Dodgers third annual LGBT Night at Chavez Ravine on Friday as Lance Bass and Lisa Vanderpump were on hand for pregame festivities.

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