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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Russ Davis figured it was his team's turn.
He was right.
|  | | Russ Davis is congratulated by teammate Armando Rios after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning. |
Davis homered and drove in four runs, and Benito Santiago and Rich Aurilia also hit home runs Sunday night as the San Francisco
Giants salvaged the finale of the three-game series by beating the
Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3.
The Dodgers hit 10 homers and outscored the Giants 20-5 in
winning the first two games of the series.
"We took our lumps," Davis said. "The ball's been traveling
pretty well here. They took advantage of it, tonight we took
advantage of it. We forgot about those two games."
Kirk Rueter (1-0), starting on three days' rest for the first
time in his career, limited the Dodgers to six hits and three runs
in 6 1/3 innings to earn the victory.
"Kirk was dealing," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "He
minimized his pitches, contrary to his last start. He got some guys
out who normally hit him pretty good. That was vintage Kirk.
"We needed that victory big-time. We hit some balls out of the
park, finally more than they did."
The Giants outhomered the Dodgers 3-1.
For the second straight game, Davis hit a two-run homer in the
second to give San Francisco a 2-0 lead, and this time it put the
Giants ahead for good. A night earlier, the Dodgers came from
behind for a 10-4 win.
Davis also hit a two-run double off Eric Gagne (0-1) in the
sixth to put the Giants ahead 6-1.
"I haven't been swinging the bat too good, haven't been seeing
the ball too well," Davis said. "I saw it better tonight."
Santiago hit a two-run homer off Gagne in the fourth, and
Aurilia hit a two-run shot off Jose Nunez in the seventh.
"They jumped on a couple mistakes," Gagne said. "Santiago, I
shouldn't throw the ball close to the plate, I threw it down the
middle."
Gagne, who allowed eight hits and six runs in six innings, said
he tried without success to pitch around Davis in the sixth with
runners at second and third and one out.
Instead, Gagne said, "I threw a curve right down the middle."
Mark Grudzielanek, suddenly a power hitter, hit his fifth homer
in the third for the Dodgers' first run.
Grudzielanek, who has homered in a career-high four straight
games, admitted he has surprised himself.
"Who wouldn't be surprised, hitting five home runs in the first
week of the season, especially me," he said. "What do you say?
I'm just seeing the ball good, staying back."
When asked if he's ever had a streak like this, Grudzielanek
replied: "In Little League, maybe. They're making a lot of
mistakes out there, hanging a lot of curves and changeups. I'm
taking advantage of it."
Grudzielanek hit a career-high 10 homers in 1998.
The Dodgers scored twice in the seventh on an RBI single by Phil
Hiatt and a ground-rule double by pinch-hitter Hiram Bocachica
before Tim Worrell got the last two outs with runners at second and
third.
Felix Rodriguez and Robb Nen finished up, pitching a scoreless
inning each.
Game notes
San Francisco's Armando Rios tied a career-high with three
hits and scored three runs. ... The Dodgers had never hit five
homers in back-to-back games at Dodger Stadium before accomplishing
the feat Friday and Saturday nights against the Giants. ... Dodgers
ace Kevin Brown, whose 2.58 ERA led the NL last season, pronounced
himself fit to make his first start of this year Tuesday night in
Arizona after an extensive workout before the game. He has been
sidelined with a sprained right Achilles' tendon. ... Dodgers
manager Jim Tracy said 23-year-old right-hander Luke Prokopec, who
allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings Friday night, would be optioned to
Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Brown. ... The start was the
193rd of Rueter's career. ... Giants outfielder Eric Davis, who
hasn't played since twisting his left knee last Thursday, said he
felt much better and hoped to return to action in the three-game
series in San Diego that begins Tuesday.
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RECAPS
Boston 3
Tampa Bay 0
Cleveland 4
Baltimore 3
NY Yankees 16
Toronto 5
Detroit 5
Chi. White Sox 3
Kansas City 15
Minnesota 4
Texas 5
Seattle 4
Anaheim 6
Oakland 4
Florida 6
Atlanta 1
Montreal 5
NY Mets 2
Philadelphia 3
Chicago Cubs 1
Milwaukee 8
Cincinnati 4
Pittsburgh 9
Houston 3
San Diego 11
Colorado 3
St. Louis 9
Arizona 4
San Francisco 8
Los Angeles 3
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