Barry Zito is scheduled to square off against Hiroki Kuroda in the Sunday night game.
The Giants will be trying to salvage a split with their bitter rivals.
I will be watching Zito closely after his car accident last Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Zito was reportedly wearing a neck brace late last week but is scheduled to make his scheduled start tonight.
1st Inning – Top
Kuroda hits Torres with an 0-1 pitch
Freddy Sanchez out on sacrifice bunt on first pitch Kuroda to Loney 1 out.
Aubrey Huff strikes out on a 1-2 pitch. Huff fouled off 3 pitches in a 6 pitch at bat.
On the 0-1 pitch Buster Posey grounds out Kuroda to Loney.
Kuroda has an 11 pitch 1st inning.
1st Inning – Bottom
Barry Zito is making his first start of the 2011 season.
Rafeal Furcal hits a line drive single to center on an 83 MPH belt high fastball on the first pitch of the game.
Jamey Carroll hits 2-1 pitch for a looping line drive to in front of Aubrey Huff in right field. Huff dives for the ball and misses it and Carroll ends up a third base with a triple. The play was scored a triple but in my opinion Huff misplayed the ball. He should have played it front of him and held Carroll to a single. Furcal scores and Carroll is credited with an RBI.
Matt Kemp jump on an 84 MPH fastball down the middle of the plate and hits a 2-run homer over the left field wall giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead
On the first pitch of the at bat Juan Uribe grounds to second baseman Freddy Sanchez who throw to Brandon Belt for out number two.
James Loney pops out to shortstop Miguel Tejada on the first pitch to end the inning.
But the Dodgers do big damage in the first inning on the 2-run homer by Kemp.
The misplay by Huff in right field was the big play that setup the inning for the Dodgers.
Zito only threw 12 pitches in the first inning.
2nd Inning – Top
Pablo Sandoval leads off the second blasting a solo homer deep over the right field wall putting the Giants on the board.
Patt Burrell strikes out looking on a 1-2 splitter. Burrell continues to look lost at the plate.
Brandon Belt hits a routine fly ball the is caught by Matt Kemp on the first pitch.
Miguel Tejada lines a 1-0 pitch that Jamey Carroll reaches up and catches for the third out of the inning.
The Giants get on the board with the Sandoval homer but the Dodgers lead 3-1.
Zito needs to put together a couple good innings so the Giants can get back in the game.
Kuroda is at 23 pitches through 2 innings.
2nd Inning – Bottom
Rod Barajas flies out on a routine fly ball to Pat Burrell on a 1-1 pitch.
On a 2-2 pitch Thames grounds out on a routine ground ball from Sandoval to Belt. 2 outs.
Zito strikes out Kuroda on a 1-2 pitch. Kuroda fouled off 4 pitches in a 7 pitch at bat.
Zito is at 27 pitches through 2 innings.
3rd Inning – Top
Barry Zito called out on strikes on a 1-2 pitch right down the middle. One out.
On the 1-0 pitch Torres flies out on a looping liner to right fielder Andre Either. Two outs.
On the 2-2 pitch Sanchez grounds out softly Uribe to Loney.
Dodgers still lead 3-1
Kuroda is at 35 pitches after 3 innings
3rd Inning – Bottom
Rafeal Furcal bunts on the first pitch. Brandon fields the bunt and flips to Sanchez for out number 1.
On the 0-2 pitch Carroll hits a check swing dribbler back to Zito that he fields and throws to Belt for the second out of the inning.
On the 2-1 pitch Either hits a sinker liner right a Freddy Sanchez. He drops to one knee and makes the catch to end the 3rd inning.
Zito is at 35 pitches and the Dodgers still lead 3-1.
4th Inning – Top
On the 1-1 pitch Huff hits a soft one hopper back to Kuroda that he fields and throws to Loney for the first out of the inning.
On a 2-1 pitch Posey hits a hard one hopper that Loney fields and tags first base for the putout unassisted. Two outs.
Sandoval strikes swinging on a 1-2 slider ending the top of the 4th inning. Kuroda has retired 9 straight Giants. Kuroda is at 46 pitches through 4 innings and the Dodgers still lead 3-1.
4th Inning – Bottom
On the 3-2 pitch Kemp reaches for a changeup that appears to be low and outside flying out on a routine fly ball to centerfielder Andres Torres.
Zito strikes out Uribe on a 2-2 changeup. Two outs.
On the 1-0 pitch james Loney flies out a on fly ball to right field. Aubrey runs in about ten feet to make the catch to end the inning.
Dodgers still lead 3-1.
Zito has settled down nicely since the rough first inning and is at 49 pitches.
5th Inning – Top
On the 1-2 pitch Pat Burrell pops out to first baseman James Lone for the first out.
Brandon Belt worked the count to 3-0 before Kuroda came back to strike him out looking on a wicked 3-2 sinker for the second out of the inning.
On the 1-2 pitch Tejada hits a fly ball to centerfield that Kemp drifts back about 3 steps and catches to end the top of the fifth inning. Kuroda has now retired 12 Giants in a row since the Sandoval homer in the second inning.
Kuroda is at 60 pitches as the Dodgers maintain their 3-1 lead.
5th Inning – Bottom
Zito strikes out Barajas swinging on a 3-2 curveball on the inner half of the plate for the first out of the inning.
On the 1-1 pitch Thames hit a chopper the Zito deflects to Sanchez who fields and throw to Belt for the second out of the inning.
On the 1-2 pitch Zito strikes out Kuroda on a fastball off the outside plate to end the fifth inning. Zito has been outstanding since the first inning.
Zito is at 62 pitches through 5 innings. The Dodgers still led 3-1.
6th Inning – Top
On the first pitch of the inning Zito chops a one hopper to Furcal who throw to Loney for the first out of the inning.
On the 1-0 pitch Torres hits a rountine fly ball to Marcus Thames for the second out of the inning.
On the 1-1 pitch Sanchez hits a slow roller that Uribe fields but trips and falls to the ground unable to make a throw to first base. Sanchez is credited with an infield single ending a steak of 14 Giants retired in a succession by Kuroda.
On the first pitch of the at bat Huff hits a looping liner into right field for a single. Sacnhez advances to third. The Giants have a good scoring opportunity but it likely going to take a two out hit by Buster Posey to score any runs this inning.
On the 2-1 pitch Posey shoots s single between Carroll and Loney scoring Sanchez with the second run of the game for the Giants.
Sandoval chops an 0-1 pitch the Carroll who fields and throws to Loney to end the inning. But the Giants inch closer to the Dodgers but still trail 3-2
Kurodas is now at 73 pitches.
6th Inning – Bottom
On the 1-1 pitch Furcal hits a sharp grounder right at Sanchez that he fields and throw to Belt for out number one.
Zito walks Carroll on at 3-2 pitch ending a 6 pitch at bat. This breaks a streak of 16 Dodgers retired in a row.
Either walk on a 3-2 pitch that was similar to the previous at bat by Jamey Carroll. The bullpen is active is Zito appears to be running out of gas.
Dave Righetti visits the mound as the bullpen continues to warm up.
On the 2-1 pitch Kemp chases a letter high pitch and hits a harmless fly ball caught by Huff in right field. Not a good at bat by Kemp who appeared to chase a pitch high and out of the strike zone.
On the 0-1 pitch Zito leaves a pitch over the middle of the plate the Uribe pops up and is caught by Freddy Sanchez to end the ending.
Nice pitching by Zito to pitch out of his two walks. Bad execution by the Dodgers to not put runs on the board against a pitcher that appears to be tiring.
7th Inning – Top
On the 2-0 pitch Burrell blasts a hanging slider over the center of the plate for a solo homer tying the game at 3-3.
On the first pitch Belt hits a slow roller to Carroll who fields and throws to Loney for the first out of the inning.
On the 1-0 pitch Tejada laces a double into the right field corner. The Giants now have an excellent opportunity to take a late lead in this game.
Kuroda seems to be losing it fast after being dominant in the early innings. He has now allow 5 hits to the last 7 batters.
Dodger Pitching Coach Rick Honeycutt visits the mound.
Mike Fontenot pinch hits for Barry Zito and flies out to left field Thames on the first pitch. After a rough first inning Zito could be in line for the win if Torres can drive in Tejada.
On the 2-1 pitch Torres pops out to third baseman Juan Uribe in foul territory to end the top of the 7th inning. But the Giants tie the score on the solo homer by Pat Burrell.
7th Inning – Bottom
Dan Runzler on to pitch the bottom of the 7th inning for the Giants.
Runzler looked very good pitching 2 scoreless innings in Friday’s game.
On the 1-2 pitch Loney lines a single into left field. Nice piece of hitting by Loney being down in the count.
Barajas strikes on a nice 2-2 slider by Runzler for the first out of the inning.
On the 1-1 pitch Thames triple to right field off Aubrey Huff’s glove at the warning track. Huff appeared to turn the wrong way in pursuit of the ball before having it bounce off his glove on the warning track. Loney scores the go ahead run giving the Dodgers a 4-3 lead.
This is the second triple hit in Huff’s direction tonight. In my opinion a healthy Cody Ross would have made the catch on this one.
On the 2-2 pitch Miles hits a belt high fastball over the middle of the plate for a single down the right field line. Thames scores giving the Dodgers a 5-3 lead.
On the 0-2 pitch Furcal drives a ball to the right center field wall between Huff and Torres for a double scoring Miles and making this a 6-3 Dodger lead.
This has turned into a nightmare inning for the Giants.
Romo is called form the bullpen to replace Ruznler.
On the 2-2 pitch Romo strikes out Carroll swinging on a slider well off the outside part of the plate for the second out of the inning.
Either lines a single into right field driving in Furcal for the 7 run of the game for the Dodgers.
On the first pitch Kemp grounds a slow roller to Tejada who flips to Sanchez to end the inning.
This was a nightmare inning for the Giants as the Dodgers score 4 runs to take a 7-3 lead. The key play that opened the flood gates was the misplayed fly ball by Huff in right field.
8th Inning – Top
Hong-Chih Kuo on the mound for the Dodgers in the 8th inning.
Freddy Sanchez gets ahead in the count 3-0 and works Kuo for 9 pitches and a 3-2 count before hitting a lazy fly ball to Eithier in righ field for the first out of the inning.
On the 1-1 pitch Huff bloops a ball to left field that is misplayed by left fielder Marcus Thames for a 1 out double.
Posey walks on a 3-2 pitch giving the Giants runners on first and second with one out.
Sandoval strikes out on a 1-2 pitch for the second out of the inning.
It will be up to Burrell if the Giants are going to score in the 8th inning.
Don Mattingly visits the mound and makes a pitching change bringing in Matt Guerrier to face Burrell.
Burrell draws a walk on a 3-2 slider that was low and out of the strike zone.
Brandon Belt works the count to 3-0 and takes strike 1 on a pitch that appeared to be off the plate. Belt takes the 3-1 pitch off the plate for ball four drawing the bases loaded walk scoring Aubrey Huff and giving Belt the RBI.
On the first pitch Miguel Tejada swings at a terrible ankle high pitch hitting a harmless foul popup caught by Loney to end the inning.
This type of baseball is very frustrating. You have the potential tying runs on base and a pitcher that cannot find the plate and you help him out being too aggressive.
Tejada is not going to make any fans in San Francisco making dumb decisions like that.
After having base runners all over the place the Giants manage to eek out one run in the 8t inning. The Dodgers still maintain a 7-4 lead.
8th Inning – Bottom
Guillermo Moto on to pitch for the Giants
On the 2-2 pitch Uribe singles to center fielder Torres.
On the 1-2 pitch Loney flies out on a routine fly ball to left fielder Pat Burrell for the first out of the inning.
With Barajas batting Mota balks Uribe to second base.
On the 3-2 pitch Barajas pops out to Tejada in short left field for the second out of the inning.
With 2 outs Javier Lopez replaces Mota on the mound.
Tony Gwynn Jr. pinch hits for Marcus Thames .
On the 0-1 pitch Gwynn grounds softly to Lopez who throws to Belt to end the inning.
9th Inning – Top
Jonathan Broxton in to try to save the game for the Dodgers.
Aaron Rowand pinch hits for Javier Lopez.
Rowand homers into the 5th row of the left seats on a hanging 2-2 slider making the score 7-5.
Torres works the count to 3-2 before grounding to Loney who flips to Broxton for the first out of the inning.
Sanchez lines a 2-1 pitch into right field for a single.
The Giants now have a fighting chance with the embattled Aubrey Huff representing the potential run at the plate.
Huff hits a hard grounder back to the mound the Broxton fields and throws to Lone at first for the second out.
Buster Posey is the last hope to keep the game going for the Giants.
On the 2-0 pitch Posey hits a routine ground ball to Furcal who fields and throw to first baseman Loney to end the game.
The Dodgers take 3 of 4 from the Giants to open the season.
This was another frustrating loss by the Giants highlighted be several bad plays.
Huff played two fly balls into triples in right field and Miguel Tejada popped out on a terrible pitch with the tying runs on base in the 8th inning.
It’s only 4 games into the season but the errors and mental mistakes are starting to become repetitive for the Giants.
BaseballTown 
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