Dodgers' scoreless innings streak to start season ends at 31
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sure, left-hander Alex Wood realized he had a tough task in trying to preserve a remarkable scoreless innings streak to start the season for Los Angeles.
It appeared he might just do it, too — for four-plus innings anyway.
The Dodgers' 31-inning shutout streak ended in the fifth Thursday during their 12-6 loss to San Francisco, one inning shy of the record to begin a season set by the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals.
"We were moving right along," Wood said. "It didn't change my mindset. It's fine and dandy that I'm part of the streak, but we lost. That's all that really matters."
Hunter Pence hit a grand slam in the eighth, and Joe Panik drove in three runs while keying San Francisco's comeback from a 4-0 deficit in the Giants' home opener.
In the fifth, Los Angeles finally gave up its first runs of 2016 when the Giants got to Wood (0-1). Brandon Crawford drew a leadoff walk, pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson singled and Denard Span drove in a run with a groundout before Panik's RBI triple. Buster Posey also doubled in a run.
Angel Pagan hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth.
"They were really aggressive against the bullpen. It was a good run, really," new Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "These guys aren't going to shut everyone out. The guys are throwing really well."
Roberts lost to his former manager, Bruce Bochy, in their first matchup that mattered.
Chris Heston (1-0) worked the sixth in relief of Jake Peavy for the victory as San Francisco erased a four-run deficit to the delight of a sellout crowd announced at 41,940.
Joc Pederson hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw from Sergio Romo in the eighth, then Pence connected off Pedro Baez for his sixth career slam and first homer of 2016. Los Angeles' ERA jumped from 0.00 after four innings to 3.09.
"You play all nine innings and you keep going no matter what," Pence said. "Things turn around."
The Dodgers challenged a would-be inning-ending double play in the second, questioning whether Panik touched second for the putout. Panik threw to first to retire Wood, who received an RBI groundout on the play after it was overturned on review.
Adrian Gonzalez's second double of the day made it 3-0 in the third when left fielder Pagan missed a tough, slicing ball on the warning track. Scott Van Slyke added a run-scoring double in the fifth before the three-time defending NL West champion Dodgers squandered their lead to this decade's every-other-year champion Giants.
The Giants outhit the Dodgers 17-13, improving to 37-22 in home openers since moving to San Francisco in 1958 — and 13-4 in their current ballpark.
RIVALRY
Roberts spent his final two seasons (2007-08) with the Giants and knows this rivalry from both sides. He also played for Bochy in San Diego.
"It's special," Roberts said. "It's real. These are two amazing franchises. Both teams need one another. They came over to the West Coast together. It's great for baseball."
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Monte Irvin, a Hall of Famer and the first black player in franchise history, and Jim Davenport, an original San Francisco Giant and longtime third baseman who later managed the team and worked in the front office, were remembered in a pregame moment of silence. Both died during the offseason.
Irvin's two daughters threw out ceremonial first pitches.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: 2B Howie Kendrick will test his strained left calf at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga with a game as the DH, a couple of games at second base and one at third. The plan is for him to be activated for Tuesday's home opener against Arizona — leaving Roberts to balance playing time between Kendrick and 2B Chase Utley. ... C Yasmani Grandal (sore right forearm) will join Triple-A Oklahoma City for games in Nashville. He also is scheduled to return Tuesday. ... 3B Justin Turner, back from knee surgery, had the day off with Yasiel Puig hitting in the No. 3 hole and Kike Hernandez starting at third.
Giants: Posey is scheduled to get a break Friday night before catching Madison Bumgarner against Clayton Kershaw on Saturday afternoon.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Ross Stripling makes his major league debut after skipping Triple-A altogether. A 2012 fifth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, he went 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA pitching for Double-A Tulsa and Class-A Great Lakes last year.
"For me it's just kind of telling him to enjoy the moment, go out there and be himself and compete. You're here because you belong here," Roberts said.
Giants: RHP Matt Cain makes his 2016 debut hoping to stay healthy after two seasons shortened by elbow problems.