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Dodgers-Giants Preview

Apr 8, 2016 - 2:52 PM If this year's first meeting between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers is any indication, the rivals could be in for a wild and entertaining season series.

After the Giants handed the visiting Dodgers their first defeat, the teams continue their four-game set Friday night.

''It's special,'' said first-year Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts, who played for both teams, of the rivalry. ''It's real. These are two amazing franchises. Both teams need one another. They came over to the West Coast together. It's great for baseball.''

While the Dodgers (3-1) have claimed three straight NL West titles, San Francisco won three of the last six World Series - all in even years - and expects to be a contender again this season. After Los Angeles outscored San Diego 25-0 to sweep its opening three-game set, its 31-inning streak without yielding a run - one shy of the major league record to start a season - ended when the Giants (3-1) scored three times in the fifth Thursday and overcame a 4-0 deficit to win 12-6.

''You play all nine innings and you keep going no matter what,'' said Hunter Pence, whose grand slam highlighted San Francisco's five-run eighth.

''Things turn around.''

Joe Panik had three hits and three RBIs for the Giants, who recorded 17 hits while scoring 12 runs for the second time this week.

''We can beat you in many different ways,'' said Panik, who is 8 for 16 in his last four home games against the Dodgers. ''We never think that we're done.''

San Francisco likely needs to remain productive at the plate with Matt Cain on the mound. Various injuries have limited the veteran right-hander to 26 starts while going 4-11 with a 4.74 ERA the past two seasons.

Cain, who went 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three spring training starts, is 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA in his last five against the Dodgers but has not faced them since May 2014.

Yasiel Puig, 4 for 11 with two doubles and a home run against Cain, is 8 for 15 with two triples, a homer, six runs scored and four RBIs through four games.

Though Los Angeles' pitchers were battered Thursday, its hitters are batting .313 with 13 doubles thus far.

Adrian Gonzalez is 7 for 14 with three doubles and four RBIs, and hitting .400 with seven RBIs in his last nine against the Giants.

The Dodgers look to regroup on the mound while handing the ball to 26-year-old Ross Stripling, who makes his major league debut two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander, who never pitched in Triple-A, went 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA pitching for Double-A Tulsa and Class-A Great Lakes last year.

He beat out established major league pitchers Carlos Frias and Zach Lee for the fifth spot in the rotation.

''For me it's just kind of telling him to enjoy the moment, go out there and be himself and compete," Roberts said. "You're here because you belong here."

It appears Stripling won't have to face Buster Posey, who had three hits with two RBIs on Thursday, to start this contest as the veteran catcher is expected to be rested.