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Gonzalez Drives In Game-Winner As Dodgers Top Giants

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  — Adrian Gonzalez hit a game-winning double in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied Monday night for a testy 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants that increased their NL West lead to six games.

Two innings after a shoving match broke out when tempers flared between Madison Bumgarner and Yasiel Puig again, the Dodgers' comeback in the ninth began with pinch-hitter Andrew Toles' leadoff single.

Corey Seager singled past diving second baseman Joe Panik on a two-strike pitch from Javier Lopez (1-3), allowing the speedy Toles to reach third.

Justin Turner's single tied the game, and Gonzalez followed with a drive to deep right field that eluded Hunter Pence.

Joe Blanton (6-2) won in relief after the latest bullpen flop by the struggling Giants followed a tense pitchers' duel between Bumgarner and fellow ace Clayton Kershaw.

Both benches and bullpens cleared during a seventh-inning scuffle.

Bumgarner fielded a slow tapper by Puig along the first base line and threw him out to end the inning. The left-hander punched his glove emphatically and said something that didn't appear to be cordial.

Puig glared back and responded, and soon both teams massed near first base before the dustup ended without any punches.

The late-game theatrics overshadowed the latest matchup between two of the game's top left-handers, Bumgarner and Kershaw.

Bumgarner allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings, struck out 10, walked none and retired his final 10 batters.

Kershaw gave up an unearned run and three hits in his third start since returning from a back injury. He struck out seven and walked one. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner retired seven in a row before leaving.

The Giants scored their lone run during an odd sequence in the third.

With two outs, Eduardo Nunez reached on an infield single to second. Kershaw dived and tried to backhand the ball, but it got by him and Chase Utley's throw pulled Gonzalez off first base as Nunez slid headfirst into the bag.

Nunez stole second and was safe at third on another headfirst slide after catcher Yasmani Grandal's throw sailed to the right of second. Nunez scored on Kershaw's wild pitch that bounced in front of the plate and over Grandal's head.

The Giants led the division by 6 1/2 games at the All-Star break but lost the lead to the Dodgers on Aug. 21. Since the lead changed hands, San Francisco has lost 16 of 27 and the Dodgers have won 18 of 28. They play each other five more times over their final 12 games.

FLIPPING PUIG

The crowd gasped when Puig flipped over the low wall along the right field side chasing a foul ball by Pence in the seventh. Puig went all the way around and crashed into the seats. He got up quickly and returned to his position in right, apparently unhurt.

DODGERS MOVE

Los Angeles recalled infielder Micah Johnson from Triple-A Oklahoma City. He appeared in two games with the Dodgers in April. In the minors, Johnson batted .261 with 26 steals, five homers and 37 RBIs in 120 games. He hit safely in all nine of Oklahoma City's games in the Pacific Coast League playoffs as the club advanced to the championship series.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (elbow) and RHP Brandon McCarthy (hip stiffness) will pitch in a simulated game Tuesday. ... LHP Alex Wood (elbow surgery) will be activated Tuesday. The team wanted an extra day to finalize the corresponding roster move. ... Manager Dave Roberts said LHP Scott Kazmir (neck inflammation) shouldn't be affected by a finger blister that he developed Sunday in a simulated game. ... LHP Julio Urias will pitch out of the bullpen during the Giants series. ... The team hasn't decided when LHP Brett Anderson (finger blister, back surgery) will return.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto (16-5, 2.86 ERA) has a 1.69 ERA in his last three starts against the Dodgers. The two-time All-Star pitched his fifth complete game of the season in his last start on Thursday against St. Louis.

Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (12-4, 2.06 overall after trade from Oakland) is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six career starts against the Giants, limiting their hitters to a .219 batting average and striking out 31 against nine walks in 40 innings.

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