SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A theatrical Trevor Bauer struck out 11 in his first career start against San Francisco, Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five by beating the Giants 2-1 Friday night.
With the Dodgers down to only four available relievers, Bauer (5-2) held the Giants to two hits over 6 1/3 innings and threw a season-high 126 pitches.
Bauer, who signed a $102 million, three-year deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, was up for the drama in his first experience of the rivalry.
After he struck out Alex Dickerson to strand runners at second and third in the fourth inning, Bauer appeared to mimic placing a sword in its sheath on his waist. As he left the game to a chorus of boos from the Oracle Park crowd in the seventh, he cupped his hand to his ear and raised his arms to provoke Giants fans.
“They’re going to hate me anyway. I might as well lean into it,” Bauer said. “I like when crowds get into it. I perform better in those moments. It just feeds me.”
Giants left-hander Alex Wood (5-1) held Los Angeles to two runs over six innings but suffered his first loss of the season. Asked about Bauer’s antics afterward, Wood could only smile.
“Do you expect anything else from Trevor?” he asked. “I’m sure Giants fans will love to hate Trevor. And he’ll love that they hate him.”
With Kenley Jansen unavailable, Blake Treinen handled the ninth for Los Angeles and got his second save.
Coming off an 8-1 homestand, Los Angeles pulled within one game of first-place San Francisco. The streaky Dodgers started the season 13-2, lost 15 of their next 20 games and have won nine of their last 10.
A day after scoring 19 runs at Cincinnati, the Giants went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and had their five-game winning streak stopped.
The Dodgers got all the offense they needed in the third off Wood. Mookie Betts doubled with one out and Taylor followed by crushing a 2-0 slider over the wall in straightaway center for a 2-0 lead.
Opponents entered hitting just .131 with two extra-base hits against Wood’s slider.
The Giants closed to 2-1 in the sixth without registering a hit. Bauer walked two and, with two outs, Evan Longoria’s comebacker deflected off the pitcher’s glove. Bauer then threw past first base for an error that brought home an unearned run.
HE WAS ROBBED
Bauer also provided entertainment with the bat. With two runners on in the sixth, he hit one sharply to right field only to have Mike Yastrzemski charge the ball and throw to first for a 9-3 putout that ended the inning.
ROSTER MOVES
With their bullpen depleted after heavy use Thursday, the Dodgers selected the contract of right-hander Nate Jones from the minors. Jones was signed just last week after pitching for Atlanta earlier this season.
The Giants promoted right-hander Nick Tropeano from Triple-A Sacramento, and he’s a candidate to potentially start Saturday after Logan Webb joined the injured list with a strained shoulder.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger went 1 for 4 with an RBI for Triple-A Oklahoma City in his first rehab game as he works back from a fractured left leg.
Giants: Backup catcher Curt Casali was OK after getting hit with a fastball on the elbow Thursday, manager Gabe Kapler said.
UP NEXT
RHP Walker Buehler (2-0, 2.98) takes the mound for Los Angeles on Saturday and is unbeaten over his past 17 regular-season starts dating back to September 2019. The Giants hadn’t announced a starter.
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