LOS ANGELES: The San Francisco Giants said they had to move on after Melky Cabrera’s 50-game suspension for a positive drug test. They’ve done just that, regaining the NL West lead and improving to 5-2 since his punishment was announced last week.
Solid pitching by Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, along with hot-hitting from Angel Pagan on the current road trip has allowed the Giants to extend their division lead to 2 1/2 games.
They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Wednesday night for their first three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium in five years. The Giants arrived in Los Angeles trailing the Dodgers by a half-game and they leave with their largest lead in a month.
Cain pitched seven strong innings following strong outings by Bumgarner and Lincecum, and Joaquin Arias homered and drove in a career-high five runs to give the Giants their first sweep in Los Angeles since April 24-26, 2007.
“It put a little pressure on you because you want to keep everything going on your end,” said Cain (13-5), who allowed one run and seven hits, struck out five and walked none to win his third in a row.
The Giants avenged a three-game sweep by the Dodgers in San Francisco last month that created a virtual tie atop the division. Now the Giants are ahead by their biggest margin since a 2 1/2-game lead on July 25.
“It was one of those series where it just didn’t seem like anything went our way,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
Chris Capuano (11-9) gave up three runs in the first inning before settling down and retiring 13 straight. But he became unhinged to start the sixth, giving up three consecutive hits. An RBI single by Pablo Sandoval chased Capuano. The left-hander allowed six runs and six hits in five-plus innings, struck out two and walked none.
Arias hit a two-run homer in the first, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead after Sandoval’s sacrifice fly. Those two struck again in the sixth, Sandoval with an RBI single and Arias with a run-scoring double. Shawn Tolleson gave up a bases-loaded walk that scored Sandoval and extended the Giants’ lead to 6-0.
The Dodgers’ first run came on Hanley Ramirez’s RBI single in the sixth.
Arias’ two-run RBI double off Jamey Wright in the seventh made it 8-1.
The Dodgers rallied with three runs in the eighth to trail 8-4. Matt Kemp hit a run-scoring ground-rule double against Clay Hensley and Luis Cruz hit a two-run single with the bases loaded off Santiago Casilla before A.J. Ellis hit into an inning-ending double play.
Giants left fielder Justin Christian ran full speed toward the left field corner and robbed Juan Rivera of extra bases with a diving catch on the warning track in the seventh with a runner on first base.
Diamondbacks 3 Marlins 2: In Phoenix, Tyler Skaggs allowed three hits through 6 2-3 innings in his major league debut, pitching Arizona to a 3-2 victory over Miami on Wednesday in the opener of the first home doubleheader in Diamondbacks history.
The 21-year-old left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Justin Ruggiano in the second, then shut down the Marlins on one hit the rest of his outing. Skaggs (1-0) He fanned four and survived five walks, then left to a standing ovation from a crowd of 17,239, Arizona’s smallest at home this season.
Aaron Hill had a two-run homer and an RBI single. Jacob Turner (0-1), in his first start for Miami since coming to the Marlins in a trade deadline deal with Detroit, allowed three runs and four hits in six innings.
Miami managed just five hits against Skaggs, Brad Ziegler, David Hernandez and J.J. Putz, who pitched a scoreless ninth for his 16th straight save and 25th in 28 tries this season.
Brewers 3 Cubs 2: In Milwaukee, Ryan Braun hit his NL-leading 34th homer and Yovani Gallardo pitched seven strong innings as Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep of Chicago.
John Axford pitched a scoreless ninth to convert his second straight save, returning to his role as the Brewers’ closer after he was demoted earlier in the season.
Gallardo (13-8) gave up two runs and four hits, with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Braun hit a solo shot deep to right-center in the sixth and had an RBI double in the first. With Wednesday’s homer, Braun has surpassed the 33 he hit during his 2011 NL MVP season.
David DeJesus and Bryan LaHair homered for Chicago.
Cubs starter Travis Wood (4-10) gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings with a walk and six strikeouts.
Giants beat Dodgers 8-4 to earn 3-game sweep
