MLB: San Francisco 2, LA Dodgers 1

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Madison Bumgarner fired eight shutout innings Monday and the San Francisco Giants opened a key three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 2-1 win.

Bumgarner (14-7) baffled the Dodgers on four hits, stranding runners on third base in the second and sixth innings en route to his third victory in four starts.

The left-hander struck out 10 and didn't issue a walk for the Giants, who vaulted over the Dodgers into the National League West lead by a half game.

Sergio Romo gave up a two-out solo homer to Hanley Ramirez in the ninth but Javier Lopez retired Andre Ethier for the final out to earn his second save.

Pablo Sandoval contributed a first-inning sacrifice fly and an RBI single in the sixth to account for the Giants' offense.

Clayton Kershaw (11-7) fanned 10 and didn't walk a batter, but absorbed the hard-luck loss for the Dodgers. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner yielded a pair of runs on six hits over eight frames.