SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was more bothered by his team’s failure to move a step closer to the first-place Giants in the NL West than he was by closer Kenley Jansen’s third blown save in his last nine appearances.
Even with nearly 100 games left to play, Roberts knows that missed opportunities in June can be costly in October.
Joe Panik hit a game-tying single off Jansen with one out in the 10th inning and scored on Buster Posey’s RBI single, and the Giants beat the Dodgers 5-4 on Saturday night.
“It felt like we had one taken away,” Roberts said after his team fell to 7-11 in one-run games. “It’s a team we’re chasing and we had a chance to gain ground.”
Los Angeles was on the verge of moving within two games of San Francisco and sitting in a good position with Jansen on the mound after Adrian Gonzalez homered leading off the 10th to put the Dodgers up 4-3.
Then the Giants, beaten on a ninth-inning home run on Friday, rallied to win with four consecutive hits off Jansen (2-2).
Denard Span started the comeback with a one-out double. Panik singled in Span to tie the game and Brandon Belt followed with a bloop single to right. Posey then lined an 0-1 pitch to left center as Panik scored easily.
“To do it against their big guy, their closer, it was that much better,” Panik said.
Jansen has three blown saves since May 20. He had two all of 2015.
“He’s the guy we want to be in that spot,” said Trayce Thompson, who had two hits. “We believe in him and no one is going to lose faith because of what happened today.”
Chris Stratton, the ninth pitcher used by Giants manager Bruce Bochy, retired three batters for his first major league win.
It’s San Francisco’s sixth walkoff win this season and their second against Los Angeles.
Gonzalez and Justin Turner also had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who lost for the third time in five games.
Both teams were forced to go deep into their bullpens after starters Jeff Samardzija of San Francisco and Scott Kazmir of Los Angeles struggled.
The Giants took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Panik scored on Matt Duffy’s fielder’s choice grounder when Los Angeles second baseman Chase Utley’s throw to first base was off target.
Thompson, whose older brother Klay was in attendance one day after helping the Golden State Warriors win Game 4 of the NBA Finals, tied it with a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
Duffy and Brandon Crawford each singled in runs for San Francisco in the first.
Kazmir pitched into the sixth and allowed three runs for the Dodgers. Samardzija allowed two runs and seven hits in a season-low 4 2/3 innings.
30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
The Giants held a brief ceremony before the game honoring their 1986 team, which became the ninth team in history to have a winning season after losing 100 or more games the previous year. First baseman Will Clark, second baseman Robby Thompson and outfielder Jeffery Leonard were among the former players in attendance.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will pitch for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday in his first outing since May 25 when he suffered a setback in his recovery from left shoulder surgery. Ryu will likely need to make four more rehab starts, according to manager Dave Roberts.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias (0-1) will make a fourth attempt to get his first career win in the majors in the series finale Sunday. Urias has pitched just 11 2/3 innings total in his previous three starts.
Giants: RHP Jake Peavy (2-6) has 14 career wins and a lifetime 2.50 ERA in 30 career starts against the Dodgers.
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