San Francisco at Los Angeles: Giants tally 8 early, hold on for 8-4 win over Dodgers

Apr 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Game one of the San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers mega-rivalry pitted Ryan Vogelsong in his first start of the 2014 season against Hyun-jin Ryu.

The fireworks began in the top of the first at the Chavez Ravine 2014 opening series.

After a two-out walk issued to Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey knocked a double to left that banged off the top of the wall.  With both in scoring position, Mike Morse laced a line drive single to center that was bobbled by Dodgers’ outfielder Matt Kemp, allowing both runs to score.

Apr 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Michael Morse (38) doubles in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Morse advanced to second on the error and was driven in by a bloop single from Brandon Belt that fell in just in front of Andre Ethier in right.

Belt advanced to third after an infield popup from Brandon Hicks was misjudged by Los Angeles second baseman Dee Gordon.  An intentional walk to Joaquin Arias loaded the bases for Vogelsong.

Before even taking the hill, Vogey helped his own cause with another bloop single, this one falling in front of Carl Crawford in left. Both Belt and Hicks scored on the play.

After a Pagan line drive single to center scored Arias, in seemingly the blink of an eye, San Francisco had batted around, the top three in the order already had two at bats and they were ahead 6-0.

Six runs in the first set a new record:

Vogelsong sailed through the bottom half of the first with a 1-2-3 inning on just twelve pitches.

Posey reached on a throwing error by Hanley Ramirez to begin the Giants half of the 2^nd.

After outs from Morse and Belt, Hicks slammed a double to center that just missed going out after ricocheting off the outstretched glove of Kemp at the wall.  Posey scored and Hicks was in at second with a double.

Arias laced a single to left that scored Hicks and the Giants had again put runs on the board with two outs — and took an 8-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning.

Vogelsong issued a walk to Ethier, but that would be it for the Dodgers in their portion of the 2^nd.

San Francisco went down in order in the third with Ryu out of the ballgame, his final line – 2 IP, 8 hits, 8 runs, 6 ER, 3 BBs, 2 Ks.

Apr 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) and left fielder Carl Crawford (3) misplay a pop up by San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32)in the first inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Gordon roped a line drive single to left for the Dodgers’ first hit of the game in the bottom half of the inning.  The speedster stole second and Los Angeles had a runner in scoring position with no outs.

Vogelsong buckled down.  After getting consecutive outs out of relief pitcher Jose Dominguez and Crawford – then a subsequent walk to Kemp – Vogelsong stuck out Ramirez looking to get out of the inning.

The fourth wouldn’t be so kind.

Adrian Gonzalez and Ethier hit back-to-back homeruns off Vogelsong to begin the inning – both solo shots – followed by a Juan Uribe double.  The damage was limited, however, as Vogey got the next three Dodgers hitters and the Giants took an 8-2 lead into the fifth.

It was more of the same in the fifth as Vogelsong gave up a leadoff single to Crawford — who then stole second — followed by an RBI double from Kemp. Ramirez laced a single to left and Vogey’s afternoon was done without recording an out in the inning.

David Huff relieved and allowed one of the inherited runners to score — Vogelsong’s final line: 4 IP, 7 hits, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks.

Los Angeles managed base runners in the 6th and 7th but Huff and Juan Gutierrez were able to keep them in check.

Jean Machi pitched a scoreless 8th and Javier Lopez slammed the door in the 9th as the Giants spoiled the Dodgers home opener with an 8-4 win.

San Francisco (4-1) and Los Angeles (4-2) play the second of their three game set tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT as Madison Bumgarner takes the hill for the Giants and Paul Maholm for the Dodgers.

Notable San Francisco Stats

Morse: 1-4, R, 2 RBI

Vogelsong: 1-3, 2 RBI

Hicks: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI

Gutierrez: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 3 Ks

Huff: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 Ks

Machi; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K

Lopez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R