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Enrique Hernandez powers Los Angeles Dodgers to win vs. San Francisco Giants

By Lee Barnathan, The Sports Xchange
Los Angeles Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez (L) celebrates with teammate Enrique Hernandez. Photo by Jim Ruyman
Los Angeles Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez (L) celebrates with teammate Enrique Hernandez. Photo by Jim Ruyman | License Photo

LOS ANGELES -- Although he isn't African-American and is in fact from Puerto Rico, Enrique Hernandez nonetheless recognizes the contributions Jackie Robinson made on the game.

"For him to be able to break that barrier and not only have an impact on baseball but throughout the world is pretty special," the Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder said. "Who knows what could have happened? I might not be here if it wasn't for him."

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Hernandez had a special game Friday on Jackie Robinson Day, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs off San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw to a 7-3 victory, handing the Giants their third consecutive defeat.

Hernandez homered to center on the first pitch Bumgarner (1-1) threw, and added a second solo shot in the third, this time to left, that broke a 1-1 tie. It was his first leadoff homer and his first multi-homer game of his career.

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In the fourth, Hernandez came up against Bumgarner with the bases loaded and doubled inside third base, giving Los Angeles a 6-1 lead.

As is Major League Baseball's tradition, April 15 commemorates the anniversary of Robinson playing in his first game or Brooklyn, and all players wear Robinson's No. 42.

"It's pretty cool to be able to have the game that I had on a night like this," Hernandez said. "I just wish I could wear No. 42 more often."

Hernandez wasn't the only Dodger to succeed off Bumgarner, who lasted just five-plus innings in giving up seven runs (four earned) and eight hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Shortstop Charlie Culberson drove in three runs. He singled in two as part of Los Angeles' four-run fourth and singled in A.J. Ellis in the sixth for a 7-3 lead.

"He made a few mistakes, far more than usual," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his pitcher.

His team also let down Bumgarner with three errors leading to three unearned runs.

"We didn't play a clean game. That would have helped matters," Bochy said. "We weren't quite as sharp as normal."

Bumgarner helped himself offensively, by scoring the Giants' first run, in the third inning. Batting eighth, he singled with one out, took second on an error, went to third on a single and scored on a Kershaw wild pitch.

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Kershaw (2-0) struck out six and gave up five hits and two earned runs in seven innings, striking out six and walking one. But he threw two wild pitches in a game for the fourth time in his career, and it led to two San Francisco runs. In addition to Bumgarner scoring on one, Angel Pagan came home in the sixth, which made the score 6-2. Hunter Pence followed with an RBI single for a 6-3 game.

Kershaw blamed the wild pitches on "bad pitches." He said he's still fighting consistency.

"Overall, I still have a lot to get better at it. The consistency -- I want to throw a good (game) every time," he said. "I'm not there right now."

He didn't need to be his best on this night, not with Hernandez, Culberson and the shaky San Francisco defense providing all the help he needed.

Chris Hatcher pitched a scoreless eighth with a strikeout, and Joe Blanton threw a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts.

Cory Gearrin pitched a scoreless sixth for the Giants, Derek Law made his major league debut by striking out the side in the seventh with one hit, and George Kontos pitched a scoreless eighth with a walk and a strikeout.

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The Dodgers broke open a 2-1 game by batting around in the fourth and scoring four times off Bumgarner, although only one run was earned.

Justin Turner led off with a walk and Howie Kendrick singled. After a strikeout, Ellis grounded to short but Kelby Tomlinson bobbled the ball and the bases were loaded.

Culberson drove in two with a single to right. Kershaw grounded to second, and Joe Panik failed to make a clean throw to second to try to get Culberson, loading the bases.

Up stepped Hernandez, who doubled just inside third base to drive in Ellis and Culberson.

NOTES: This was the ninth time Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw have faced off with Kershaw is 3-4 with a 2.18 ERA and Bumgarner 4-3 with a 2.87 ERA. ... Friday was the seventh anniversary of Kershaw striking out 13 batters. At 21 years, 27 days, he was the youngest pitcher to ever strike out that many. ... Justin Turner returned to the Dodger lineup after sustaining a left-hand injury Wednesday against Arizona. He went 1-for-three with a triple off Derek Law... Buster Posey faced Clayton Kershaw 75 times entering the game, more than any other pitcher. He had a .228 batting average to show for it. ...The Dodgers are now 10-3 on Jackie Robinson Day. ... The Giants placed INF Ehire Adrianza and RHP Sergio Romo on the disabled list. Adrianza has a fractured left foot and Romo a strained flexor tendon. The Giants called up rookie RHP Derek Law and second-year OF Mac Williamson. Both got into the game Friday: Law pitched an inning and struck out the side and Williamson grounded out as a pinch hitter. ... The Dodgers took RHP Chris Hatcher off the paternity list and optioned INF/C Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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