Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The San Francisco Giants’ Darin Ruf walks back to the dugout after striking out against Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson during the first inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts swings for a single during the second inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts connects for a single during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts advances to second base on a grounder by Trea Turner during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb shows his frustration after walking in a run during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb shows his frustration after walking in a run during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts scores on a bases-loaded walk during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb shows his frustration during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Webb walked three consecutive batters, including one with the bases loaded. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski runs into the wall when he runs out of room pursuing a foul ball during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants second baseman Wilmer Flores completes a double play over the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts on a ground ball from Trea Turner during the second inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Trayce Thompson dives headfirst into third base on a single by Mookie Betts during the second inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Jake Lamb slides into second base after being forced out by San Francisco Giants shortstop Thairo Estrada, as Estrada throws on to first to complete a double play during the third inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson pitches to the San Francisco Giants’ Darin Ruf during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the third inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The San Francisco Giants’ Yermin Mercedes hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria scores on a single by Yarmin Mercedes, not pictured, as Dodgers catcher Will Smith looks on during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria is high-fived after scoring on a single by Yermin Mercedes during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger slides into second as San Francisco Giants second baseman Wilmer Flores prepares to catch a throw and tag him out during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger slides into second as San Francisco Giants second baseman Wilmer Flores tags him for an out during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher David Price throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher David Price throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia reacts after the final out of the top of the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Jake Lamb is hit by a pitch during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger connects for a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger connects for a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger watches the flight of his tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger watches the flight of his tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger watches the flight of his tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger celebrates as he begins to circle the bases after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger runs the bases after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, right, is greeted by teammates Jake Lamb, left, Max Muncy, center, and Freddie Freeman, obstructed, after he hit a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, center, is greeted by teammates Freddie Freeman, left, and Jake Lamb after he hit a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, left, is greeted by teammate Mookie Betts and Manager Dave Roberts, right, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, left, is greeted by teammate Mookie Betts as he returns to the dugout after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger celebrates in the dugout after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger smiles in the dugout after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam during the eighth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 5-1. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel prepares to throw to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers outfielders Cody Bellinger, center, Trayce Thompson, left, and Mookie Betts celebrate together after the team’s 5-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger celebrates in the outfield after the team’s 5-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Down 0-and-2 with two outs in the eighth inning, Dairy Queen spokesman – and struggling hitter – Cody Bellinger fouled off three pitches to stay alive then drilled a curveball 383 feet into the right field seats for a grand slam that broke a tie game and lifted the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.
“It feels great. I’m not going to lie. It feels really good,” Bellinger said, a wide smile creasing his face. “It feels good to put the right swing on the ball and see the results.”
Bellinger’s first home run since July 1 set off a blizzard of cheers. Egged on by his teammates, he came out of the dugout for a curtain call and chants of “Co-dy! Co-dy!” greeted him as he trotted out to center field for the ninth inning, his teammates hanging back so he would get the moment to himself.
Heady stuff for a .208 hitter.
“When I got back to the dugout, they all said, ‘Curtain call! Curtain call!’” Bellinger said. “I didn’t believe it but JT (Justin Turner) pushed me out there on the top step and it felt pretty cool.”
These moments have been few and far between for Bellinger, whose defense in center field remains Gold Glove-caliber but whose offensive struggles have made the 2019 National League MVP season seem very long ago.
“He was determined to put together an at-bat,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Just to continue to spoil some pitches, to fight, then he got a breaking ball in his wheelhouse and put a great swing on it. Those are the moments. He’s just been grinding all year. So for him to have a moment where he felt he contributed – which he’s contributed all year defensively. But to have a game like that, to win it for us, I know he’s going to sleep well. You could see how excited everyone was.”
For the second night in a row, the Giants helped set the stage for the Dodgers’ drama with some clumsy defense.
With the score tied, 1-1, in the eighth, Freddie Freeman led off with his second hit of the night. After Will Smith flew out to the warning track in left field, Freeman moved up on a wild pitch.
He went to third when Max Muncy’s 100.9 mph ground ball straight at first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. (freshly in the game after pinch-hitting in the top of the inning) went off his glove and through his legs.
Gavin Lux struck out for what should have been the third out of the inning. But Jake Lamb loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch, bringing up Bellinger against lefty reliever Sam Long.
Nowhere has Bellinger’s offensive regression been more evident than against lefty-handed pitching. During his MVP season, he hit .280 against lefties with 18 of his 47 home runs off southpaws. In the past two years, he has batted .155 against lefties with just two home runs in 187 at-bats before Friday night.
It didn’t look like it was going to change against Long when he pumped a 95 mph fastball by Bellinger for strike one and then quick-pitched him, getting a called strike to put Bellinger further in the hole.
“I just felt like the ball was there right when I got in the box. I tried to call time but it was too late,” Bellinger said. “At that moment, I took a step back and just tried to get the job done. Take a better swing than my first three (at-bats).
“Luckily, that wasn’t strike three. That was strike two so I had another opportunity there. Took a step back, took a deep breath.”
After fouling off three pitches, Bellinger crushed Long’s curveball.
“Sometimes I think he gets a little too – feeling too good where he wants to do too much,” Roberts said. “Other times he gets a little too defensive. There’s a fine line. There’s a big middle there where you’ve still got to be aggressive, not be afraid to fail. I think right there he was just trying to see the baseball, put a good swing on it and he did.
“To go down 0-2 in that at-bat and not just give the at-bat away says a lot about Cody.”
The Giants were the ones in charge of giveaways Friday. The Dodgers’ first run of the game was a gift from Giants starter Logan Webb.
Thursday night’s hero, Mookie Betts, led off with a single before Webb retired the next two batters. But then he walked three in a row, missing the strike zone 12 times in 16 pitches, to force in a run.
Webb’s wanderlust lasted two innings. He walked four of the first nine Dodgers batters, faced 11 and threw 51 pitches in the first two innings, missing the strike zone with more than half of them (26).
The Giants right-hander found his way back to the strike zone after that, though, and the Dodgers had missed an opportunity. Webb retired 11 of the next 14 batters he faced. Back-to-back singles by Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman with two outs in the fifth put some more heat on Webb but he got Will Smith to fly out.
Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson had a smoother ride through his six innings.
Anderson retired the first eight Giants batters in order and ran into trouble with two outs in the fourth only after third baseman Muncy made a wild throw to first base as Thairo Estrada beat out an infield single.
Dodgers in a familiar place at the break but with unfamiliar faces
That put runners at first and third for Yermin Mercedes, who dumped an RBI single into right field to tie the score.
“Really just trying to execute pitches and mix it up a little bit and not to live in one hole too many times,” Anderson said.
The Giants had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth when a single by Wade off reliever Yency Almonte and a walk of Evan Longoria put two on with two out. Lefty Alex Vesia came in to face pinch-hitter David Villar and escaped when Villar bumped a ground ball to the right side on a checked swing.
That left the door open for Bellinger’s heroics, lifting the Dodgers to their 12th win in the past 13 games and 15th in their past 17.
“I just feel like the last two nights, especially against the Giants, there’s a lot of history there. It’s just been a really fun atmosphere here,” Anderson said. “Dodgers fans have really been showing out. To be able to come out on top was really fun.”
“It’s been a really fun atmosphere here and Dodger fans have been showing out.” Tyler Anderson on the energy at the stadium in the last few nights. pic.twitter.com/eQMCX0qcIl
