Masterful Webb pitches Giants past Dodgers in the playoff opener.
The 107-win San Francisco Giants blanked the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 Friday night in the first game of their NL Division Series.
Logan Webb struck out ten batters in his postseason debut, Buster Posey hit a two-run homer that held up,
and the Giants blanked the Dodgers 4-0.
Those two Giants standouts neatly summed up the NL West champions’ season: A great effort by the youthful right-hander,
who was backed up by a seasoned catcher who has already shone on this huge October stage?
Posey’s presence, according to Webb, was crucial in his success.
“Honestly, it’s just having him back there,” Webb added. “He’ll make me feel better.”
Kris Bryant and Brandon Crawford also hit home runs to help Webb and a pair of relievers pitch a combined five-hitter.
Everyone understands that this clash between century-old foes raises the stakes in this best-of-five playoff series. They ended with baseball’s two best records,
and the division came down to the last day, with the Dodgers finishing one game behind with 106 victories, breaking an eight-year winning streak in the West.
Los Angeles had to beat the Cardinals in the wild-card game on Wednesday night,
then travel directly to Oracle Park in the Bay Area, where a raucous crowd awaited them.
“Today’s energy was incredible,” Webb remarked.
On Saturday night, the Dodgers will send 20-game winner Julio Uras to the mound against Giants All-Star right-hander Kevin Gausman in Game 2 of the series.
After a two-out single by Mookie Betts in the eighth inning, Webb waved his throwing hand and walked away to a standing ovation.
While outpitching Dodgers standout Walker Buehler, he did not walk a hitter.
“Obviously, it’s on me to try to generate some momentum,” Buehler said, “and I sort of sucked it out of our dugout.”
Tyler Rogers came in for the eighth inning to get the last out, and Camilo Doval took over for the ninth.
ALSO, YOU CAN READ:
Tellez HR, throw spark Brewers over Braves 2-1 in Game 1
Giants manager Gabe Kapler, who was making his own postseason debut on the top step of the dugout, was certain that the 24-year-old Webb would shine in his greatest start.
Webb led the Giants to their first division championship since 2012 by pitching the Giants over the Padres in the regular-season finale last Sunday.
Since May 5, when Webb lost to Colorado, he hasn’t lost.
Webb was in complete control, thanks to a changeup and slider. In addition,
he converted four comebackers into outs.
Tommy La Stella drew a five-pitch walk from Buehler in the bottom of the first inning then hit a couple of singles while playing outstanding defense.
Posey, who missed last year’s coronavirus-shortened season to care for prematurely born adoptive twin daughters, was ready.
With two outs in the first, he clobbered a 3-0 pitch into a water-spraying pillar over the right-field arcade, sending the orange-towel waving sellout crowd of 41,934 into a frenzy.
Posey could play in every playoff game, according to Kapler, and why not? The experienced catcher,
who is 34 years old,
started five of the last six regular-season games and 10 of the season’s final 13 games.
He hadn’t hit a playoff home run since Game 4 of the 2012 World Series against Max Scherzer in Detroit.
In the fourth inning, La Stella intercepted Justin Turner’s crisp grounder to second base and flipped the ball to Crawford, who fired to first baseman Wilmer Flores for an inning-ending double play.
This is the first playoff matchup between the two legendary teams, whose history dates back to the days when they were both based in New York.
The clubs met in a best-of-three NL tiebreaker in 1951 and 1962, with the Giants winning all three games.
On a night when Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Young led the “Beat LA!” shout before the first pitch,
Webb shined.
When displayed on the big screen in the middle innings alongside NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin,
home run king Barry Bonds received a standing ovation, stood and waved.
Bryant, who was acquired from the Cubs in a midseason deal, hit a home run for the Giants.
As the ball flew over the left-field fence, Buehler dropped his head, hands on knees.
Crawford homered in the eighth.
Buehler was 7-0 versus the Giants in his career until losing in the season series finale on Sept. 5 as San Francisco edged LA 10-9, with the Dodgers leading 80-78 in runs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: Manager Dave Roberts chose lefty David Price among his 12 pitchers over fellow southpaw Justin Bruihl,
who made his big league debut in August and isn’t yet ready to throw back-to-back days in Los Angeles.
“I think with David, definitely the expertise, the ability to add some length, a neutral arm,” Roberts said of Price’s advantages.”
In fact, Roberts would not rule out the possibility of Price starting Game 4 as the starter.
RHP for the Giants After missing considerable time throughout the season due to elbow issues
, Johnny Cueto was dropped off the San Francisco roster. “It was a difficult choice.
I believe we would have preferred to have him stretched out and regarded him as a possible starter for one of these games “According to Kapler.
“We simply weren’t able to get there, which is unfortunate.”
It’s especially difficult since Johnny has been so important to the group.”
1B Brandon Belt is out with a broken left thumb, which he hopes to recover in time for the NLCS if the Giants advance.
UP NEXT
Uras (20-3, 2.96 ERA) hasn’t lost in 17 starts since June 21, going 11-0 during that span, which includes a victory at Oracle Park on Sept. 4.
“It’s a huge game,” Uras remarked, “and I’ll give it my all.”
Gausman (14-6, 2.81) was 0-1 in his last four outings after a five-game winning streak. However, in an eventual extra-innings defeat to San Diego on Saturday, he only allowed one run over seven innings.
MORE, ALSO, AS WELL AS:
Tellez HR, throw spark Brewers over Braves 2-1 in Game 1
SOURCE:
