Masterful Webb throws Giants past Dodgers in playoff game opener

SAN FRANCISCO – Logan Webb masterfully hit 10 shots in his playoff debut, Buster Posey hit a two-run homer that held up and the San Francisco Giants to 107 wins shut out the defending Series champion World Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 Friday night at the opening of their NL Division Series.

Those two Giants’ strengths summed up this year perfectly for the NL West champions: A brilliant performance from the young right-hander backed by a veteran receiver who has shone on this great October stage so many times before.

Webb credited Posey’s presence with helping him excel.

CORREA AND ALVAREZ HELP ASTROS GET 2-0 LEAD OVER SOX IN ALDS

“I have it right there, honestly,” Webb said. “He’s going to calm me down.

Kris Bryant and Brandon Crawford also scored to support a combined five from Webb and a pair of relievers.

Everyone knows that this showdown between hundred-year-old rivals takes this best-of-five playoff series to another level. They finished with the two best records in baseball, with the division ending on the final day as the Dodgers finished one game behind with 106 wins, ending their eight-game winning streak in the West.

That meant Los Angeles had to bypass the Cardinals in Wednesday night’s wildcard game and then fly straight to the Bay Area, where a noisy crowd filled Oracle Park.

“The energy today was great,” said Webb.

The Dodgers will look to level the series when they send 20-game winner Julio Urías to the mound for Game 2 on Saturday night against Giants All-Star right-hander Kevin Gausman.

MUSCLES RED SOX FLEX, POWER PASSED FROM SPOKES 14-6 TO SAME ALD 1-1

Webb waved his pitching hand for a rousing ovation in the eighth after a two-man single by Mookie Betts. He didn’t walk a batter while passing Dodgers star Walker Buehler.

“Obviously it’s up to me to try to create momentum and I kind of sucked that out of our canoe,” Buehler said.

Tyler Rogers took over for the final in the eighth and Camilo Doval worked in the ninth.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler, making his own playoff debut on the top step of the dugout, had absolute confidence that 24-year-old Webb would shine in the biggest start of his life. Last Sunday, Webb threw the Giants past the Padres in the regular season finale as San Francisco won the club’s Premier League title since 2012. Webb hasn’t lost since May 5 to Colorado.

With a shift and a slider, Webb was in control. He also turned four comebackers into outs.

Tommy La Stella hit a pair of singles and played a sparkling defense, kicking things off by pulling a five-length walk from Buehler late in the first.

That set things up for Posey, who missed last year’s shortened coronavirus season to deal with prematurely adopted twins. He hit a 3-0 ground in a water-spray pillar above the right-field arcade with two outs in the first to send the sold-out crowd of 41,934 to the orange towel into a frenzy .

Kapler said Posey could play every playoff game, and why not? At 34, the veteran wide receiver started five of the last six games of the regular season and 10 of 13 overall to end the season. It was his first homerun in the playoffs since the 2012 World Series fourth game in Detroit against Max Scherzer.

LIKE HR, TAKE SPARK BREWERS ON BRAVES 2-1 IN GAME 1

La Stella stopped Justin Turner’s sharp ground player at second base in fourth and in the same movement returned the ball to Crawford, and the shortstop shot first baseman Wilmer Flores for a double play in end of the round.

This is the first playoff meeting between legendary franchises whose history dates back to their days in New York City. In 1951 and 1962, the teams met in a best-of-three National League tiebreaker, with the Giants winning each of those three games.

Webb was blown away one night, San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame members Jerry Rice and Steve Young lead the “Beat LA!” sing before the first pitch. Home run king Barry Bonds received a standing ovation, rose and bowed when he was shown on the big screen mid-innings sitting with NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin.

Bryant, acquired in a mid-season trade with the Cubs, scored for the Giants. Buehler lowered his head with his hands on his knees as the ball passed over the left field fence.

Crawford scored in the eighth.

Buehler was 7-0 for life against the Giants before suffering a loss on September 5 in the season finale as San Francisco edged LA 10-9, with the Dodgers holding an 80-78 point advantage. .

TRAINERS ‘ROOM

Dodge: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went with southpaw David Price among his 12 pitchers over fellow southpaw Justin Bruihl, who made his major league debut in August and is not yet someone Los Angeles is at. comfortable with consecutive days. Regarding Price, Roberts noted the benefits: “I think with David, definitely the experience, the ability to add length, a neutral arm.” In fact, Roberts didn’t rule out considering Price an opener for Game 4.

Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto has been ruled out of the San Francisco roster after missing much of the season with elbow problems. “Very difficult decision. I think we would have liked him to lie down and maybe be seen as someone who could start one of those games for us,” Kapler said. “We just couldn’t do it, and it’s difficult. In particular, it’s difficult because Johnny was very important to the organization.” … 1B Brandon Belt is sidelined by a broken left thumb which he hopes will heal in time for a return to the NLCS if the Giants advance.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

FOLLOWING

Urías (20-3, 2.96 ERA) has not lost in 17 starts since June 21, going 11-0 in that streak which included a September 4 victory at Oracle Park.

“It’s a big game and I’m going to concentrate as much as possible,” said Urías.

Gausman (14-6, 2.81) was 0-1 in his last four starts after five consecutive winning decisions. But he allowed a run in seven innings last Saturday in a possible overtime loss to San Diego.