LOS ANGELES — Matt Wilkinson’s role has been nebulous during his short time in the majors. In his debut, he served as an opener. On some days, he’s made traditional starts. In others, he’s been a multi-inning reliever.
Wilkinson is one of several young, inexperienced pitchers on this roster trying to prove he can start at the major-league level. His performance on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium helped those efforts.
“Tugboat” couldn’t prevent the Giants, who lost 3-1 to the Dodgers, from being swept, but he turned in arguably the best start of his short career. In his seventh career appearance, Wilkinson tossed five shutout innings against the NL West champions, collecting a career-high six strikeouts without recording a single walk.
Jonah Cox, as he has done so often, used his elite speed to generate a run. Cox began the afternoon by drawing a leadoff walk, then scrambled to second when the Dodgers’ Jack Dreyer made an errant pickoff throw. Already in scoring position, Cox swiped third with ease, his 14th steal of the season, then scored on a single by Victor Bericoto.
Following Dreyer’s lone inning as the opener, San Francisco couldn’t generate any offense against Los Angeles’ Emmet Sheehan, who allowed one hit over 5 1/3 scoreless innings of long relief with nine strikeouts.
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The Dodgers’ offense couldn’t generate any offense against Wilkinson, but pounced once Wilkinson’s afternoon ended. With one out in the sixth, Tommy Edman turned on a 2-2 cutter from reliever Carson Seymour and sent the offering into the Giants’ (64-92) bullpen, tying the ballgame at one.
Los Angeles scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh when lefty Sam Hentges allowed a double to Kiké Hernández that scored Max Muncy.
Up next
The Giants will return to Oracle Park for their final six games of the regular season, beginning with a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins.
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