Buster Posey hit a first-inning home run and Logan Webb took it from there in his postseason debut to help the San Francisco Giants complete a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Having faced the Giants six times throughout the regular season, Buehler acknowledged there was little unknown between the two sides and adjustments would be necessary. While he was improved from last month’s outing at Oracle Park, the Giants made the night difficult.
A leadoff walk in the first inning was cashed in when Posey was given the green light on a 3-0 count and he lifted an opposite-field home run. The Giants proceeded to have at least one baserunner through five consecutive innings, but Buehler kept the Dodgers’ deficit to 2-0.
That L.A. wasn’t first to score or later cut into the Giants’ lead involved a bit of luck. Justin Turner’s grounder up the middle likely would have carried through for an RBI single in the first inning, but it instead hit off Webb’s foot and he recovered to make the play for the third out.
Wilmer Flores also made multiple diving stops at first base, and Tommy La Stella and Brandon Crawford combined for a dazzling double play.
When the defense wasn’t backing him up, Webb kept the Dodgers off balance with a steady diet of sliders — at times benefitting from a generous strike zone — to get through 7.2 scoreless innings.
The Dodgers nevertheless had opportunities at various points throughout the game, including stranding a runner at second base in the sixth and seventh innings. Webb exited with two outs in the eighth, turning in his best start of the year.
Meanwhile, Buehler failed to make it through the seventh as he surrendered a leadoff home run to Kris Bryant. The three homers allowed marked a career high for Buehler in 12 postseason starts.
The Giants added another in the eighth inning when Brandon Crawford took Alex Vesia deep for a solo shot.
Dodgers turn to Urias
Having dropped the series opener, the Dodgers now look to Julio Urias to help prevent them from falling into a 2-0 deficit. Of course, the offense will need to improve against Kevin Gausman.
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