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The San Francisco Giants finally managed to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
They'll try to earn another win over their intrastate rivals as the teams conclude
their three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Ray Durham hit his 27th career leadoff homer Saturday, helping the Giants to a 5-3 win in the middle game of their weekend set. San Francisco had lost the first four games in the season series, all by one run.
The Giants won for just the second time in 10 games.
``I've been struggling. Everybody's been struggling with guys on base,'' said catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who had a two-run single in the eighth. ``I finally got one to fall.''
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San Francisco managed to win Saturday without much offensive help from slugger
Barry Bonds.
Bonds grounded out in his only at-bat and was walked three times, one night after drawing a career-high four intentional walks. He has not homered in three straight games since hitting one in seven straight.
Nonetheless, Bonds reached base safely in 10 straight plate appearances (2-for-2 with eight walks) before his fifth-inning groundout Saturday.
The Dodgers have a good excuse for pitching around Bonds. He is 8-for-12 against Los Angeles this season with four homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored.
Bonds is hitting .512 with nine homers, 20 RBIs and 27 walks -- 12 of them intentional -- while the Giants entered Saturday's game hitting .245 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs.
Juan Encarnacion hit a ninth-inning homer Saturday for the Dodgers, who have
lost just three of their last 10 games and lead the NL West.