Giants vs. Dodgers score: Logan Webb's gem propels San Francisco to NLDS Game 1 win

Buster Posey, Kris Bryant and Brandon Crawford all homered in the Giants victory

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The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants kicked off their anticipated National League Division Series on Friday night in San Francisco. These were the two best teams pretty much throughout the entire regular season, with the Giants winning the NL West with 107 wins to the Dodgers' 106. The Dodgers came in as series favorites, with many people generally believing they have the more talented team. The Giants struck first blood, however, with a 4-0 victory. 

Here are the biggest takeaways from Game 1. 

Webb's gem

Walker Buehler is going to be one of the top four finishers in NL Cy Young voting. He might even win it. As such, the Dodgers were gambling favorites, albeit slightly, for Game 1. Buehler (6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) certainly was no slouch, allowing barely any threat between the first and seventh innings -- and only getting beat on two home runs from the team that led the league in homers -- but Logan Webb was the star of the night on the mound. 

Webb had absolutely everything here. He missed bats. He got groundballs to let his defense help him. The Giants righty induced weak contact at times. He was efficient. Just every single box one might want to check, Webb hit it. 

Leaning heavily on his changeup-slider off-speed combo while mixing in sinkers and the rare four-seam fastball, Webb struck out 10 batters in 7 2/3 scoreless innings without walking anyone. He allowed five hits while getting 12 groundballs compared to just two flies. He did allow more than a handful of hard-hit balls, but most of those were on the ground and gobbled up by his defense (we'll get to that). 

In his 7 2/3 innings, Webb only needed 92 pitches. He got 21 swings and misses in addition to seven foul balls. 

Posey gets the green light

Half the scoring of the game came in the bottom of the first inning. The Giants had a baserunner on, thanks to leadoff man Tommy La Stella's walk. With a 3-0 count, Buehler tried to slip a fastball by Buster Posey and the Giants legend delivered an opposite-field shot. 

After only hitting 12 homers combined between 2018 and 2019, and then opting out of 2020, Posey hit 18 home runs this season in a power resurgence, posting the third-best slugging percentage of his career -- trailing only his Rookie of the Year and MVP seasons. This was his fifth career postseason home run. 

Kris Bryant homered in the seventh inning to give the Giants another run of insurance. It was his seventh career postseason home run and, obviously, his first with the Giants. Brandon Crawford added a solo shot of his own in the eighth inning for his second career playoff homer.

Giants' team defense

The Giants ranked sixth in baseball in defensive efficiency this season, which measures the percentage of balls put in play that are converted into outs. It's a good team defense measure because it helps account for positioning, range and, you know, actually catching and throwing the ball without making an error. 

There was an early throwing error, but after that, the Giants defense was masterful. How about this gem in particular from La Stella and still-underrated defensive shortstop Crawford. 

What's next?

Next up is Game 2, which takes place back at Oracle Park on Saturday night at 9:07 p.m. ET. Julio Urías (20-3, 2.96) takes the ball for the Dodgers while Kevin Gausman (14-6, 2.81) is the Giants' starter. 

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@Dodgers via Twitter
October 9, 2021, 4:17 AM
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Of note: 

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 4:10 AM
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Brandon Crawford's solo homer stretches the Giants' lead to 4-0. They now have a 98.8 percent chance of winning Game 1.

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 4:08 AM
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Re: Bryant's night: 

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 3:46 AM
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Oh, Webb also has nine ground-outs tonight and no fly-outs.

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 3:17 AM
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Webb's through six on just 65 pitches. He's struck out eight, walked none, and given up three hits. Working on a true gem.

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 3:15 AM
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Going into the sixth, the Giants still lead 2-0 and have a 78.9 percent chance of winning Game 1.

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 3:08 AM
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@MLB via Twitter
October 9, 2021, 2:57 AM
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@MLB via Twitter
October 9, 2021, 2:44 AM
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That was a pretty incredible turn by the Giants right there.

Dayn Perry
October 9, 2021, 2:36 AM
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Last time Webb faced J. Turner with a man on he induced an inning-ending double play. Can he do it again?

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