Dodgers Keep Playoff Hope Alive With 7-2 Victory Over Giants

LOS ANGELES, CA —The Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco Giants 7-2, Tuesday, to stave off elimination and tie up the best-of-five National League Division Series.

The victory forces a game 5 to be played Thursday at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Four home runs from two players —Mookie Betts and Will Smith — helped the Dodgers keep the Giants on their heels the entire game.

Betts' two-run homer in the fourth inning increased the Dodgers' lead to 4-0. He had a sacrifice fly in the fifth that gave the Dodgers a 5-1 lead.

Will Smith hit a two-run homer in the eighth that increased the Dodgers lead to 7-2.

Betts and Smith were among six Dodgers with two hits as they out-hit the Giants, 12-7, before a crowd at Dodger Stadium announced at 52,935.

The Dodgers took an early lead and never trailed. In the second inning, Gavin Lux and Cody Bellinger got on base with singles, and Chris Taylor hit a sacrifice fly into left field to make it 2-0.

Walker Buehler, pitching on three days rest for the first time in his five-season major league career, allowed one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking two.

Joe Kelly, who relieved Buehler, pitched two-thirds of an inning for the victory. The four relievers who followed Kelly allowed one run and three hits over the final four innings.

The Dodgers never trailed, opening the scoring in the first with Trea Turner doubling in Corey Sager, who singled.

The Dodgers added a run in the second. Gavin Lux led off with a single, moved to third on Cody Bellinger's single and scored on Chris Taylor's sacrifice fly.

San Francisco scored once each in the fifth and eighth.

Evan Longoria singled off leading the fifth and moved to second on a one-out walk to Steven Duggar, the last batter Buehler faced.

Tommy La Stella, the first batter Kelly faced, singled, advancing Longoria to third.

The next batter, Darin Ruf, grounded out, driving in Longoria, with the run charged to Buehler.

Brandon Crawford doubled leading off the Giants' half of the eighth, moved to third on Buster Posey's ground out and scored on Kris Bryant's ground out.

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, the first of eight San Francisco pitchers, was charged with the loss, allowing two runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.