The Los Angeles Dodgers look well-positioned to defend their World Series title after bolstering their roster in the offseason. Meanwhile, National League West rivals the San Francisco Giants are also expected to contend for a postseason spot this year.
The two arch-rivals kicked off their first meeting of the season with a game at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 13, highlighted by a showdown between their pitching aces.
Logan Webb Dominates Dodgers Lineup in Series Opener
On Friday night, the Giants secured an impressive a 6-2 victory over the Dodgers to take the first game of the series. Logan Webb outdueled his counterpart, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with a masterful performance on the mound.
Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt provided the decisive moment of the game, hitting a two-out grand slam in the third inning.
Webb pitched seven innings, giving up just two runs on two hits and three walks.
“Just trying to find new ways to get very good hitters out. That was the game plan today, and [Giants catcher Andrew] Knizner did an awesome job today,” Webb said after the game. “It was great to throw to him. That was exciting. The defense played great. An awesome day.”
On the other hand, the Dodgers’ ace lasted just 4.2 innings after giving up five earned runs on six hits, including two home runs. He struggled with command, throwing only 56 strikes out of 102 pitches. Yamamoto walked five and struck out four.
“I was having a little struggle to hit my spots, to locate my pitches. That made me, kind of, fall behind [in the counts], and I gave up three walks, which led to the grand slam,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 5 BB (career high), 4 K, 102 P) talks with the media after the Dodgers drop the series opener to the Giants, losing 6-2. Get closer to the action with SNLA+, with the MLB app; including pregame and postgame at no extra cost with Spectrum… pic.twitter.com/ETiLcWUung
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 14, 2025
 “I think he’s got really good command, but tonight he was being a bit too edgy for me,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in his postgame press conference. “Tonight, he was being just too fine.”
Roberts also praised Webb for keeping the Dodgers lineup and the crowd quiet for most of the night. He said the Giants’ starter showed his veteran experience and took full control after getting a big lead.
“Tonight, he was being just too fine.”
Dave Roberts addresses the media after the #Dodgers lose to the Giants 6-2, and are now tied with San Francisco for the NL West division lead. pic.twitter.com/5cvRopgAst
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 14, 2025
 “Logan was doing what he does. He changes his speeds. He doesn’t give in,” Roberts said. “There’s a cutter, and there’s a sweeper in there. The velocity was good tonight. He’s a top-end pitcher.”
“Early on, I thought it’d be a tight game, and we might get to him,” Roberts added. “Once they got the grand slam, it just gave him a lot more margin right there. And he was just on the attack.”
The two teams are also battling for the top spot in the National League West. Los Angeles currently holds a 41-28 record, while San Francisco moved up to 40-28 with the win, just one game behind.