What we learned as Trevor McDonald’s stellar first start fuels win vs. Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — In at least one way, the Giants got what they needed this weekend. The New York Mets dropped two of three to the lowly Washington Nationals at home, continuing their late-season slide. It wasn’t the Giants, though, who went charging through that door. The Cincinnati Reds are now in the driver’s seat for the final NL postseason spot, and the Giants will head home knowing they could be eliminated in the next 48 hours. They at least made sure the flight was a happy one. Trevor McDonald impressed in his second outing of the year and the Giants rallied late, winning 3-1 to avoid a four-game sweep at Dodger Stadium. They finished with a 2-5 road trip and will head home at 77-79 on the season. The game was scoreless and zooming along at an incredible pace until the seventh, when the Dodgers scored and put two in scoring position with one out. Tommy Edman hit a line drive to first but it was snagged by the 6-foot-7 Bryce Eldridge, who was making his first big league start on the dirt. Eldridge isn’t just tall, he also used to be a pitcher, and he made a quick throw to third for an inning-ending double play.  Bryce...