SAN FRANCISCO -- A few years ago, a Josh Beckett-Tim Lincecum game would have made for a great pitching matchup. Now, it makes for a long game.
Both starting pitchers, working with diminished tools, managed to wobble their way through five innings, then the bullpens took over, which is usually a good thing for the Dodgers.
Not so much Tuesday night at AT&T Park. The Giants scratched out all their runs off Dodgers relievers, including rallying to tie it in the ninth inning off closer Kenley Jansen and winning it 3-2 in the 12th off Brandon League.
After a wild pitch, Hector Sanchez singled home the winning run off Justin Turner's glove.
For a while, things were getting wacky.
The Dodgers survived a wild bottom of the 10th that included two infield hits to the pitcher, an overturned call at first base and a five-man infield (Andre Ethier manning first base). San Francisco was within one ball of winning the game, but Jamey Wright escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam by inducing a pair of shallow popups.
An inning later, the Dodgers threw out a baserunner 5-6-3 after a ball deflected off Juan Uribe right to Hanley Ramirez, who threw to first.
How it happened: Beckett was able to hold on, though at times he seemed hesitant to throw strikes. But the Dodgers' offense wasted opportunities, and the bullpen couldn't handle the heavy workload.
Hits: The Dodgers re-signed Uribe because they desperately needed his reliable glove in an otherwise suspect infield. That was really about all there was to it. His production with the bat has been a nice little surprise. Uribe leads the Dodgers in hits (22), and he provided the two hits that ignited an otherwise stagnant offense with a second-inning home run off Lincecum and a leadoff double in the seventh.
Misses: The Dodgers continue to give away outs behind their pitchers. Ramirez tried to make an off-balance throw to second base rather than take an easy out at first in the sixth inning. He bounced it and Dee Gordon couldn't come up with it, eventually handing the Giants an unearned run. The error was exacerbated by a Chris Withrow wild pitch. Tim Federowicz's throw beat Hunter Pence to third, but Uribe couldn't apply the tag off a low toss.
Stat of the game: Beckett walked five batters in five innings. It was his highest walk total since a May 29, 2011, start for the Boston Red Sox.
Up next: Lefty Paul Maholm (0-1, 8.10 ERA), who has been keeping Clayton Kershaw's spot in the rotation warm for him, makes his second start as a Dodger. The Giants counter with Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 8.00 ERA), who was hit fairly hard at Dodger Stadium two weekends ago. The game is at 7:10 p.m. PT at AT&T Park.