LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers' pitchers are beginning to take control of the National League West race. If this continues much longer, it might not end up being much of a race.
Zack Greinke kept the San Francisco Giants down most of the night and the Dodgers' revitalized bullpen did the rest in a 2-1 win at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. Clayton Kershaw could practically put the Giants away if he can help the Dodgers complete the sweep Wednesday night.
How it happened: Jose Peraza might wind up looking like the key piece in the three-way trade the Dodgers swung with the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins in July. At the very least, the 21-year old looks like he belongs in the big leagues.
The rookie had the defensive play of the Dodgers' season so far, starting an inning-ending double play in the eighth by snaring Brandon Belt's one-hopper and shoveling backhand to Jimmy Rollins with his glove. The Giants had mounted a serious rally with three consecutive singles off Greinke, getting the tying run to second base with one out.
Neither pitcher lived up to his reputations as a hitter, but both took care of their main business. Greinke was a little bit better than Madison Bumgarner, allowing one run on five hits in 7⅓ innings. Greinke walked one batter and struck out five.
Sometimes, an entire outing comes down to one pitch. Greinke's night was teetering in the seventh inning with runners at second and third with one out when he threw a slider near the outside edge of the plate to new Giant outfielder Alejandro De Aza. The pitch may have been a bit outside, but catcher A.J. Ellis framed it well and umpire Mike Winters, who had a big zone all night, called it a strike to help Greinke get out of the inning. Kelby Tomlinson flew out to end the inning.
Bumgarner dominated the Dodgers' hitters, as usual, but they managed a brief two-out rally in the third inning to eke out the only run of the game through six innings. Rookie Jose Peraza sparked it with a single and, after Justin Turner walked, Adrian Gonzalez drove him in with a single to left. Joc Pederson had good at-bats all night against Bumgarner and it paid off in the seventh inning, when he lined a home run over the center-field wall. Pederson, who has been in a massive slump, sprinted around the bases.
What it means: The Dodgers haven't put away the Giants, but they could make September largely worry-free with one more win in this series. Their lead is now 5½ games with 31 games left, four of which are head-to-head.
Notable: Giants manager Bruce Bochy was ejected after the seventh inning, likely for arguing about the call to De Aza. … Peraza dropped a Kelby Tomlinson pop fly in the second inning for an error that put runners at the corners with two outs, but Greinke got Bumgarner to pop up to nearly the same spot on the next pitch to end the inning. … Tuesday marked the first time in the 129-year history of the rivalry that both teams batted their pitchers eighth. They each went 0-for-3. … Greinke nearly had an RBI hit in the second inning. Matt Duffy made a diving catch to snare his line drive. … The crowd of 48,060 was far from a sellout, but it was a far more electric atmosphere than Monday night had been.
Up next: The series concludes Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. PT. Kershaw (11-6, 2.24 ERA) opposes Mike Leake (9-6, 3.53 ERA).