SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Zack Greinke and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers were denied a playoff-clinching party for at least another day, losing to the World Series champion San Francisco Giants 3-2 on pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza’s 12th-inning sacrifice fly Monday night.
Andre Ethier hit a tying groundout in the top of the ninth, then the rivals needed three more innings to decide this one. With the Dodgers employing a five-man infield, De Aza hit a fly to left against Adam Liberatore for a victory that prevented San Francisco from being eliminated from the pennant race.
Yimi Garcia (3-5) took the loss.
Los Angeles lost its fourth straight game after a weekend sweep at Colorado and is five games ahead of the Giants with six to play.
Greinke, who had his last turn skipped as he nursed a tender right calf, had his five-start winning streak snapped dating to an Aug. 22 defeat at Houston.