Giants eye 11th straight home win and top spot in NL West
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - After making a statement in the opener of this three- game series, the San Francisco Giants will try to forge a tie atop the National League West standings on Saturday night in a matchup with the first- place Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants shut out the Dodgers 9-0 last night to move within a game of the Dodgers, the slimmest the margin has been since Aug. 4. Madison Bumgarner hurled seven scoreless innings to win his 18th game of the season, while Brandon Crawford and Travis Ishikawa homered.
Bumgarner gave up just three hits while striking out nine and walking two for the Giants, who have won four in a row overall. The left-hander has won five straight starts and is tied with Adam Wainwright, Johnny Cueto and Clayton Kershaw for the most wins in baseball.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's not hard to get up for the Dodgers series, especially the circumstances we're in," said Bumgarner.
The Giants have won a season-best 10 straight home games for the first time since an 11-game run from July 7-25, 2003.
Hyun-Jin Ryu got the start for the Dodgers and lasted just one inning. The left-hander gave up four runs on five hits before leaving with left shoulder irritation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Dodgers, who came in having won five of six, left the bases loaded in the fifth when Adrian Gonzalez flied out and were shut out for the first time since Aug. 4.
"We had the bases loaded, and if we get a hit or scratch out a run, we can get back in the game," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
The Giants and their playoff chances can't be too happy to see Dodgers starter Zack Greinke, who is a perfect 3-0 with a 2.30 earned run average in five career meetings with San Francisco.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Greinke is 14-8 with a 2.73 ERA overall this season and has gone 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last four starts since opening August with consecutive losses. The right-hander beat Arizona on Sunday with six innings of two-run ball, scattering six hits and three walks in a 7-2 win.
"Zack's stuff was good," said Mattingly. "A little wild early, but he continued to make pitches."
Tim Hudson will try to win for just the second time in 10 starts tonight in his start for the Giants.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hudson is 9-10 with a 3.12 ERA on the year and took a 6-1 loss to Detroit on Sunday despite a quality start. He yielded three runs -- all in the third frame -- on eight hits and a walk over six innings.
The key at-bat for the right-hander was a two-run homer he allowed to Miguel Cabrera.
"I felt like I was making some pretty good pitches for the most part," Hudson said. "Obviously the ball I threw to Miggy right there, I don't think there's anything else he could have done but hit it out."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hudson, 39, is 6-4 over his career versus the Dodgers with a 3.46 ERA in 15 meetings.
The Giants are 8-6 against the Dodgers this season, but Los Angeles has won four of the previous six matchups between the foes.