SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Darin Ruf hit two homers and drove in four runs, Joc Pederson added two hits and two RBIs, and Jakob Junis won his third straight decision as the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 Friday night.
Ruf was activated off the bereavement list earlier in the week after being away following the death of his father. It turned out to be an emotional night, following a trying week.
“Obviously, it’s hard to put into words,’ Ruf said after the game. ”It’s been a tough week for me, my family. I’m thankful for the Giants and my teammates who have been so supportive. So, yeah, it’s been tough.”
Junis (4-1) worked five innings and yielded two runs and five hits, including Gavin Lux’s fifth-inning homer, before leaving with a strained hamstring.
The Lux homer pulled the Dodgers within 3-2 before the Giants scored three runs in their half of the fifth inning to pull away.
With Curt Casali on first base and one out, pinch-hitter Austin Slater hit a comebacker to Dodgers reliever Justin Bruhl, who slipped as he fielded the ball. That caused Bruhl to throw wildly past first as Casali and Slater advanced to third and second. One out later, Pederson singled home two runs and Ruf stroked an RBI single.
“Obviously playing with a pretty heavy heart right now,” Evan Longoria said of Ruf. “I don’t know that there’s a better series to break out in. … Great game for him. Obviously, hopefully that allows him to kind of relax a little bit. He’s been great for us. He has the potential to carry us. … it’s nice to have him back on track.”
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler (6-3) lost for just the second time in his career in nine decisions against the Giants. He allowed three runs and four hits in four innings before leaving the game with discomfort in his…