LOS ANGELES — The Giants were so gassed after a 16-inning game in Miami on Thursday that they chose to add a 14th pitcher instead of Brandon Belt, their best hitter, for the opener at Dodger Stadium. The situation was still dire even with Pierce Johnson, so manager Bruce Bochy was prepared to let Derek Holland hit for himself if there were two on and two outs in the top of the fifth, despite a rising pitch count.
And yet there was Pablo Sandoval, a day after playing all 16, muscling a Ross Stripling offering into the left field bullpen in the seventh inning.