Camilo Doval’s electric three-strikeout return couldn't save the San Francisco Giants' late-inning collapse.
The San Francisco Giants are desperately ready to get to the 2027 season.
This team fell to 65-96 as they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3.
It marked their fourth consecutive loss and is now their seventh straight loss against the back-to-back World Series Champions.
San Francisco hasn't beaten LA since Tuesday, May 12, when these two teams split a four-game series.
The Dodgers are eyeing a second straight sweep over the Giants, one that would mark their sixth win over them in the last 10 days.
Dodgers score game-winning run in top of the ninth
For what it's worth, this is arguably the best the Giants have looked in quite some time, but that isn't saying much as these games mean nothing to either team.
The Dodgers have nothing to play for as they already locked up the first-round bye and can no longer clinch home-field advantage, and San Francisco has been out of playoff contention for what feels like an eternity.
LA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but the Giants immediately answered. Sadly for the Giants, the Dodgers would score two more in the top of the fourth.
San Francisco put together a late rally as they added one run in both the seventh and eighth innings, only for those not to matter as Trent Harris picked up his first career loss as he allowed a crucial run to score in the ninth.
The Giants used seven pitchers in this game, Camilo Doval included, only for the final one to give up the run that would decide the game.
Doval strikes out the side in his return
All eyes were on Doval in this one as the Giants knew he would be available in potentially both this game and their regular season finale on Sunday, Sept. 27.
There are no guarantees he'll pitch in both, especially since he's coming off a 16-pitch outing, but at this point in the year the Giants have nothing to lose.
They have no idea where Doval will end up in 2027, but they realized he still had his best stuff left in the tank.
After being bounced around quite a bit this year, Doval made what could've been his final appearance count. In total, he threw 16 pitches, 10 of which were for strikes, and he struck out the Dodgers side in order.
Most impressively, Doval was tied for the most strikeouts by a pitcher in this game, matching Dodgers' starter Blake Snell, who struck out three batters in four innings.
