In a thrilling start to their series, the San Francisco Giants clinched a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in Los Angeles. Logan Webb delivered an impressive performance, throwing seven innings and allowing only two hits while striking out four, marking his first win since mid-May.
Casey Schmitt highlighted the game with his first career grand slam, which soared 423 feet to left-center field, breaking a 1-1 deadlock in the third inning. The grand slam came after the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled, loading the bases with a couple of walks to set the stage for Schmitt’s decisive hit. Yamamoto ultimately allowed five runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings, while also facing a season-high five walks.
The Giants managed to notch 10 hits throughout the game, showcasing their offensive strength, including a homer from Willy Adames in the first inning. Despite the Dodgers narrowing the score with Teoscar Hernández’s homer off Webb in the seventh, the Giants maintained control of the match.
Notably, Giants catcher Andrew Knizer made an impact with his first hit and homer of the season in the eighth inning, further solidifying the Giants’ lead.
This match marks the first meeting between these two rivals this season, with the teams historically having a fierce competition against one another. Last season, the Dodgers had the upper hand, going 9-4 against the Giants, yet this game signifies a strong start for San Francisco.
Looking forward, the Giants will have Landen Roupp (4-4, 3.29 ERA) on the mound for Saturday’s match, while Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 4.35) will start for the Dodgers. Both teams are keen to establish dominance in the tightly contested NL West.
The performance by Webb and Schmitt is a promising sign for the Giants as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the season, showcasing their ability to compete at the highest level in the major leagues.