SF Giants vs. Dodgers: 10 of the most unforgettable games since they moved west

It’s a rivalry so strong it picked up steam after it moved across the country.

The New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers played from the 1890s through 1957 as East Coast rivals, with the highlight being Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” at the Polo Grounds in 1951, winning the National League pennant for the Giants.

The new chapter began modestly enough on April 15, 1958, when Ruben Gomez of the San Francisco Giants shut out the Dodgers and Don Drysdale 8-0 before 23,000 fans at rickety Seals Stadium on Bryant and 16th in the Mission District. Since the move, the Dodgers own a 576-540 edge in the series.

As the Giants and Dodgers begin a three-game series tied for first place in the National League West Friday night at Oracle Park, a look back at 10 memorable games from the series throughout the years:

Ninth-inning magic

Oct. 3, 1962 at Dodger Stadium: Giants 6, Dodgers 4

The Dodgers and Giants are both 101-61 after 162 games, extending the regular season with a best-of-three playoff to determine who will face the New York Yankees in the World Series as the National League champion. The Giants rough up Sandy Koufax to win Game 1 8-0 in San Francisco, but the Dodgers win 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth the next day. Trailing 4-2 in the ninth the deciding game, the Giants score four times, on a run-scoring single by Willie Mays, a sacrifice fly by Orlando Cepeda, a bases-loaded walk to Jim Davenport and a Dodgers infield error. Billy Pierce retires the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the ninth. The Giants lose the World Series in seven games to the Yankees when Bobby Richardson snags Willie McCovey’s line drive to second base with runners at second and third.

Marichal-Roseboro mayhem

Aug. 22, 1965 at Candlestick Park: Giants 4, Dodgers 3

Few remember who even won the game on a day when the rivalry became violent as Giants pitcher Juan Marichal clubbed Dodgers catcher John Roseboro over the head with his bat. It happened in the third inning when Marichal believed a return throw from Roseboro to Sandy Koufax clipped him in the ear. Trouble was brewing before then as Marichal hit Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills and Koufax sent a pitch sailing over the head of Willie Mays. That led to Marichal forcing the Dodgers’ Ron Fairly to hit the deck. Mays played peacemaker in the brawl that ensued after Marichal struck Roseboro. The Giants closed within 2 1/2 games of the Dodgers with the win, but won the pennant by two games with a 97-65 record.

Bobby Bonds walks it off

Sept. 3, 1973 at Candlestick Park: Giants 11, Dodgers 8

The Cincinnati Reds are the class of the N.L. West, but the Dodgers and Giants are doing their best to keep pace. The Giants trail 8-1 after six innings but score six times in the seventh, knocking out Dodgers starter Tommy John. In the bottom of the ninth, Bobby Bonds delivers a walk-off grand slam against Dodgers reliever Jim Brewer on Labor Day before a crowd of 15,279. The Dodgers (95-66) finish in second place, 3 1/2 games back, the Giants third (88-74).

Mike Ivie in a pinch

May 28, 1978 at Candlestick Park: Giants 6, Dodgers 5

With the Giants trailing 3-0 to Don Sutton in the sixth inning, Terry Whitfield doubles home a run and Mike Ivie pinch-hits for shortstop Vic Harris with the bases loaded. He delivers a grand slam before a crowd of 56,123 and the Giants lead 5-3. Reggie Smith ties it for the Dodgers with a two-run home run against John Montefusco in the seventh. An RBI single by Darrell Evans wins it for the Giants in the eighth. The Dodgers (95-67) win the division and the pennant but lose to the Yankees in the World Series. The Giants finish third (89-73).

Joe Morgan plays spoiler

Oct. 3, 1982 at Candlestick Park: Giants 5, Dodgers 3

The Giants, in a three-way battle for the N.L. West title with the Dodgers and Braves, are eliminated in humiliating fashion in the 161st game. The day after the Dodgers win 15-2, Joe Morgan hits a two-out three-run home run against Terry Forster with Bob Brenly and Guy Sularz aboard in the bottom of the seventh inning. It breaks a 2-2 tie, and Greg Minton closes out the Dodgers and knocks them out of the race. Atlanta (89-73) wins the division, followed by the Dodgers (88-74) and the Giants (87-75).

When 103 wins isn’t enough

Oct. 3, 1993 at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 12, Giants 1

The Giants have a 103-58 record and are tied for first place with the Atlanta Braves going into the season finale against the Dodgers. First-year manager Dusty Baker sends rookie Salomon Torres to the hill. Torres lasts 3 1/3 innings and five relievers fare no better as the Dodgers collect 14 hits. Kevin Gross stops the Giants on a six-hitter as the Dodgers play spoiler and finish 81-81. The Braves, meanwhile beat Colorado 5-3 and win the N.L. West by a game with 104 wins.

Brian Johnson’s biggest moment

Sept. 18, 1997 at Candlestick Park: Giants 6, Dodgers 5, 12 innings

The Giants tie the Dodgers for the N.L. West lead when catcher Brian Johnson hits a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 12th against Dodgers reliever Mark Guthrie. It sends a crowd of 52,188 into ecstasy. The Dodgers had tied the game 5-5 in the seventh on a two-out, two-run single by Mike Piazza against Roberto Hernandez.  Relief pitcher Rod Beck held the Dodgers scoreless in the 10th, 11th and 12th to get the win. The Giants (90-72) win the division, with the Dodgers (88-74) finishing two games back.

Barry Bonds hits Nos. 71, 72

Oct. 5, 2001 at Pacific Bell Park: Dodgers 11, Giants 10

Barry Bonds made baseball history with his 71st and 72nd home runs, breaking Mark McGwire’s three-year-old single-season record. When Bonds connected in the first inning against Chan Ho Park, the Giants already trailed 5-0 and knew the Arizona Diamondbacks had clinched the N.L. West earlier in the day. The defeat also secured wild card berths for Houston and St. Louis, leaving the Giants on the outside looking in. They finished with a 90-72 record and Bonds finished with 73 home runs. Three years later, Bonds had one of his most memorable at-bats against Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, hitting a home run to dead center field on a 100 mph fastball after earlier hitting one foul into the water.

Finley’s slam seals Giants doom

Oct. 7, 2004 at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 7, Giants 3

The Giants lead 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Dodgers score seven times — with 39-year-old Steve Finley finishing things off with a walk-off grand slam against Wayne Franklin. It clinches the first National League West title for the Dodgers in nine years with a 93-68 record while the Giants fall to 90-71. The Giants finish a game behind the Houston Astros in the wild card race.

The MadBum vs. Puig feud

Sept. 19, 2016 at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 2, Giants 1

Other than Clayton Kershaw, former Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner wasn’t too fond of the Dodgers. Most recently, it was Max Muncy for admiring his splash hit first-inning home run in 2019. Before that, it was Yasiel Puig. It came to a head when Puig hit a weak comebacker to Bumgarner in the bottom of the seventh. Bumgarner, whose momentum took him toward first, threw for the out, stared at Puig and said, “Don’t look at me!” The benches emptied although no blows were thrown. The Dodgers countered the next day with “Don’t look at me!” T-shirts in Dodger blue.