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 The loss cost the Dodgers (88-70) a chance to tie the New York Mets
(89-69) in the NL's overall standings, which will determine the
home-field advantage in the first-round playoff matchup between the
first-place finishers in the NL West and East.
The Dodgers and Giants conclude a four-game series Thursday before
Los Angeles heads home to wrap up the regular season with three
games against the San Diego Padres.
Leake, who had been just 1-5 since joining the Giants on July 30 for
what the club had hoped to be a run at a second consecutive World
Series championship, fired the first shutout of his career. He
allowed just shortstop Jimmy Rollins' fourth-inning single and left
fielder Carl Crawford's ninth-inning infield hit in his second
complete game of the season.
Leake, a pending free agent, walked three and struck out one while
running his overall record to 11-10.
The right-hander took advantage of a Dodgers lineup that was without
the club's leader in home runs and RBIs, first baseman Adrian
Gonzalez, who was one of eight Los Angeles starters from the
division-clinching win who did not start Wednesday.
Gonzalez pinch-hit in the fifth inning with a runner on third base
and struck out.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and first baseman Nick Noonan belted home
runs, and second baseman Kelby Tomlinson had an RBI double for the
Giants (83-75), who were formally eliminated from playoff contention
with an 8-0 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday night.
The home run by Noonan, off Dodgers reliever Joel Peralta, was the
first of his career. It increased the Giants' lead to 5-0 in the
seventh inning.
Duffy, a leading candidate for National League Rookie of the Year
honors, collected three of the Giants' eight hits. He leads all NL
rookies with 167 hits, and he raised his average to .300.
He also scored the Giants' final run, his second of the night, on
right fielder Jarrett Parker's single in the eighth inning.
The loss was the Dodgers' fifth in the past six games and their 11th
in 18 meetings with the Giants this season.
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The Giants took advantage of Mike Bolsinger's wildness to jump on
the Dodgers starter early.
After getting ahead 0-2 on the Giants' second batter, Tomlinson,
Bolsinger threw four consecutive balls to walk him, then a fifth
straight to fall behind Duffy.
When Bolsinger grooved his next pitch, Duffy smacked a two-run shot
to left field.
Tomlinson increased the lead to 3-0 in the third with an RBI double
that scored center fielder Angel Pagan, who led off the inning with
a single.
Bolsinger (6-6) gave up three runs on four hits in his 3 1/3
innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
NOTES: One night after clinching the National League West, the
Dodgers had eight different starters than in the 8-0 win. Only INF
Corey Seager repeated as a starter, and even he changed positions,
moving from shortstop to third base. ... Should the Dodgers and New
York Mets finish with identical records, the Mets would earn
home-field advantage in the first-round playoff series by virtue of
their 4-3 edge in the regular season. ... The Dodgers announced
before the game that RHP Zack Greinke was selected as the winner of
the annual Roy Campanella Award, given to the Dodgers player who
best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the Hall of Fame
catcher. ... Giants 1B Brandon Belt had right knee surgery Wednesday
to repair torn meniscus. He already had been declared out for the
season because of recurring concussion issues. ... Giants manager
Bruce Bochy said before the game that Thursday's starting pitcher,
RHP Tim Hudson, probably would go no more than two innings in what
is expected to be the final outing of his career.
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