Ruf's return not enough vs. archrivals

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants’ bullpen was lights out while helping to secure the club’s first shutout win of the year on Tuesday, but the unit imploded in a 10-5 loss that sealed a series loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Oracle Park.

Giant killer Max Muncy delivered his second two-homer performance of the series, crushing a game-tying solo shot off Scott Alexander in the fifth inning before breaking it open with a three-run blast off John Brebbia that capped Los Angeles’ decisive five-run rally in the sixth. In 75 career games against the Giants, Muncy has 25 home runs and 55 RBIs, 11 of which came in this three-game series alone.

Here are three takeaways as the Giants (5-7) dropped two of three to their archrivals:

1. Ruf returns
Darin Ruf returned for his second stint with the Giants on Wednesday, when the club selected his contract from Triple-A Sacramento and slotted him into their starting lineup against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. It was Ruf’s first visit to Oracle Park since August, when he gave an emotional farewell to his teammates after being dealt to the Mets in exchange for J.D. Davis, Thomas Szapucki and pitching prospects Carson Seymour and Nick Zwack.

“The hugs I got to give today were a lot better than the hugs I got to give back in August,” Ruf said. “It was great to see everybody.”

Ruf, 36, is coming off a disappointing seven-month stint in New York, where he batted only .152/.216/.197 with zero home runs over 28 games last year before being cut loose by the Mets this spring. Ruf’s struggles came amid a difficult year for him personally, as he was grieving the unexpected death of his father and processing a jarring cross-country move for his family.

Now that he’s back in familiar territory, the Giants hope Ruf will be able to recapture the production he showed against lefties over his three seasons in San Francisco. Ruf said he got about 10 at-bats in extended Spring Training, but the Giants wanted to add more right-handed thump in their lineup while outfielders Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger continue to work their way back from injuries.

Ruf certainly didn’t disappoint in his first at-bat back with the orange and black, hammering an RBI double off Kershaw that nearly cleared the left-field fence and extended the Giants’ lead to 2-0 in the first inning. Ruf added a single in the eighth and should get more chances to contribute with a string of opposing lefties coming up during the club’s six-game road trip to Detroit and Miami.

“Obviously the feel-good moment of the night for our side,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He’s had a tough go up until today. I think there were feelings of relief from him. I think people were really happy for him. He’s as well liked as anybody we’ve had here over the last couple of years. He’s performed really well for our team.”

2. Rough night for Rogers
Taylor Rogers was expected to help stabilize the back end of the Giants’ bullpen after signing a three-year, $33 million deal over the offseason, but the left-hander couldn’t preserve a 3-3 tie in the sixth. Rogers issued four consecutive walks to begin the inning, including one on a pitch-timer violation and one that was on the wrong end of a 15-pitch battle against Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who forced in the go-ahead run.

Brebbia relieved Rogers and gave up a sacrifice fly to Will Smith before misplacing a slider that Muncy lofted over the right-field arcade for a backbreaking three-run homer. Rogers has now allowed seven runs over 3 1/3 innings (18.90 ERA) in his five appearances with the Giants.

“He’s just struggling to find the zone consistently,” Kapler said. “That was a tough one, obviously. He just couldn’t throw strikes. When he was able to throw strikes, Freeman put a tremendous at-bat on him and forced him to get in the zone over and over and over, which he did. He just wasn’t able to finish.”

Rogers didn’t hide his frustration afterward, throwing his glove in the trash can and repeatedly slamming the dugout bench with his right hand.

“I think these ones are ones you don’t figure out until the next day,” Rogers said. “You never sleep, so you’re alone with your thoughts all night. That’s when you try to pinpoint what you’re going to do.”

3. Conforto, Johnson exit with injuries
The Giants lost two more outfielders on Wednesday, as Michael Conforto and Bryce Johnson were both forced to exit early with injuries. Conforto started in right field, but he was removed after three innings due to left calf tightness. The 30-year-old slugger is day to day, but the Giants are hoping he’ll be ready to return following Thursday’s off day.

Johnson entered the game as an injury replacement for Conforto, but he also got hurt after making an incredible leaping grab in center field to briefly preserve the Giants’ 3-2 lead in the fourth. Johnson robbed Freeman of extra bases and left runners stranded on second and third, but he was diagnosed with a concussion after slamming hard into the wall and is expected to land on the injured list.