Giants 5, Dodgers 2 (13 innings)
LOS ANGELES - Much was made of the $10 million Dan Haren would secure with a solid start Monday, with the right-hander entering play at 174 innings pitched this season and his option vesting at 180.
The 34-year-old right-hander got to six innings, and finished one more for good measure, getting the Dodgers deep into the game against the San Francisco Giants on a night they sorely needed it at Dodger Stadium.
But his bullpen peers could hold the Giants back for only so long. Kevin Correia, the seventh reliever Don Mattingly used, coughed up three runs in the 13 th as the Dodgers suffered a 5-2 loss.
Haren allowed just one hit on the night - a leadoff homer to Gregor Blanco in the first inning. He didn't miss his spot by much, but the Giants center fielder powered the high fastball to straightaway center and out of the field of play.
Three batters later, Haren hit Pablo Sandoval, and that was the last baserunner he allowed.
San Francisco starter Jake Peavy promptly hit the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig in the bottom half of the inning. Puig stared Peavy down, but nothing else developed - even when A.J. Ellis was hit by a pitch later in the game.
The Dodgers went the game's final seven innings without recording a hit.
Haren earned $500,000 this season for hitting the 180-inning mark. If he makes his 32 nd start of 2014 on Saturday, as he's currently scheduled, he'll earn another $500,000.
The same incentive package will be in place for 2015, allowing him to make as much as $13 million. But he has said he is undecided as to whether or not he'll pitch.
Monday's late innings were drama-laden. Ex-Giant Brian Wilson entered with a runner on and two out in the eighth and immediately issued a walk to Buster Posey, then went to a 3-2 count before inducing a groundout from Sandoval.
Kenley Jansen and Brandon League got key outs with runners in scoring position in the ninth and 10 th, and Yasiel Puig made a game-saving throw in the 11 th inning to get Brandon Belt out at the plate.
The Dodgers (89-68) can clinch a National League West title with wins in the next two games against the Giants - or risk heading into the final weekend of the season to secure it.
Monday's lively announced crowd of 53,500 made it the highest-attended game in the major leagues this season.
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