Giants 5, Dodgers 2: Marco Scutaro broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single and host San Francisco won the opener of the crucial series between the National League West rivals.

The Dodgers intentionally walked Angel Pagan to load the bases before Scutaro singled to right field off Josh Beckett (1-2), who gave up four runs over 6 1/3 innings in his first start against the Giants since 2005.

Tim Lincecum allowed two runs with seven walks and as many strikeouts over 6 1/3 frames for the Giants, who moved 5 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West. Santiago Casilla (7-5) earned the win and Sergio Romo worked a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Pagan had three hits for San Francisco, including an RBI single in the third to tie the game at 1-1. The Dodgers moved ahead when Adam Kennedy crushed a hanging curveball to right field with two outs in the top of the sixth.

San Francisco manufactured a tying run in the bottom of the sixth before Scutaro provided the key hit in the eighth.

The Giants added an insurance run in the eighth when Brandon Belt led off with a single and eventually scored from third on Joaquin Arias’ infield single.

The heart of the Dodgers’ batting order – Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier – went a combined 0-for-17, and Los Angeles went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position but stayed 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card slot.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kennedy left the game in the seventh inning with an apparent groin injury. … The Giants' lead in the division is their largest since 2003. ...The Dodgers recalled INF/OF Alex Castellanos from Triple-A Albuquerque. …Giants LF Xavier Nady, who missed the game with a mild hamstring strain, could return early next week. … San Francisco improved to 29-19 against NL West opponents.