San Francisco Giants Bring Out The Brooms, Sweep Los Angeles Dodgers

May 5, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants infielder

(48) and first baseman

(28) celebrate after scoring runs on a double by San Francisco Giants outfielder

(not pictured) against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning at AT

It wasn’t easy – not that we ever expected it to be, but the Giants came through with their third consecutive one-run victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight, sweeping their bitter rival in the process.

Giants ace Matt Cain wasn’t the Matt Cain we’ve come to know, but it was his best start outside of his season opening start against the Dodgers as Cain tossed 7.1 innings of one run ball Cain left the mound without allowing a run, but a walk to Matt Kemp before his departure eventually came around to score as the Giants’ bullpen struggled. The Dodgers put up a three spot on the Giants in the eighth as a Adrian Gonzalez pinch hit single dribbled by Marco Scutaro, scoring two. A nubber from speedster Dee Gordon scored another before Jean Machi came in to stop the bleeding.

For the Giants, their four runs all came off the bat of Hunter Pence – an RBI ground out in the first followed by two doubles, the fifth inning double plating two.

The sweep moved the Giants into sole possession of first place and also gave the Giants a sweep over every National League West divisional foe, a pretty impressive stat given it’s only early May.

The 19-12 record gives the orange and black the fifth best record in baseball, only behind the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals – all of whom (including the Giants) are separated by no more than a single game.

San Francisco will attempt to continue their six game win streak tomorrow evening when the Philadelphia Phillies come to town.