Vogelsong Leads Shutout of Dodgers in 2-0 Win

Ryan Vogelsong continued his dominance of the Dodgers on Tuesday night. He went his usual seven innings, allowing no earned runs on three strikeouts. His ERA now sits at a pretty 2.23, sixth best in the National league.

Melky Cabrera jumpstarted the Giants offense in the fourth, hitting a homerun that just barely got over the left field wall, giving the Giants a 1-0 advantage over Clayton Kershaw who went 4-1 against the G-Men last season.

Cabrera's homerun was quickly followed by a Buster Posey liner to right fielder, but Angel Pagan was unable to move him over, grounding into a soft fielder's choice. However, Pagan was able to steal himself into scoring position, setting the table for Pablo Sandoval. After driving in three runs last night, the Panda kept it going by knocking in Pagan who ran through a mini Tim Flannery stop sign, but he was still scored with ease.

Despite loading the bases with a Brandon Belt scorching line drive off high off the bricks in right field, and an inteional walk to the eighth place hitter Joaquin Arias, Kershaw was able to strikeout Vogelsong  and Blanco to end the threat.

Vogelsong (7-3) was never in much trouble. He walked the leadoff batter Dee Gordon to kick off the game, but he took a page out of Zito's book by inducing a double play to Elian Herrera. That double play was key as the Dodger's slugger, Andre Ethier followed with a double down the right field line. However, Vogelsong was able to get Juan Rivera to ground out slowly to short.

After cruising through the middle innings, Vogelsong found himself in a mini jam in the top of the seventh frame.

 Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a solid single up the middle with one out. Then speedster Tony Gwynn hit a slow roller up the middle that shortstop,  Joaquin Arias fielded the ball, but he was unable to flip it to Ryan Theriot to get the lead runner. The slumping James Loney pinch hit for Kershaw, but all he could do was fly out to medium center field, ending the threat.

The Giants went down quietly to end the game, but they wouldn't need anymore runs as Jeremy Affeldt retired the side in the eighth, and Casilla was able to close the door in the ninth, despite having a atrocious weekend in Oakland.