Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts (right) slugs a bottom of the first inning solo home run off San Francisco pitcher Cesar Perdomo (left) as Giants catcher Drew Cavanaugh and plate umpire Louie Krupa watch at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri Sep 18, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the San Francisco Giants (64-90) traveled to the west coast for their final road series of the 2026 season taking on their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers (94-60) the Giants came away getting clobbered 8-2 at Dodger Stadium in the first of a three game set.

The two teams will meet again at Oracle Park for a final three game series to finish off the season next weekend in San Francisco.

In front of a packed crowd, the Dodgers got a great start in this game taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, a solo home run off the bat of leadoff hitter Mookie Betts. Jung Hoo Lee would tie up the game 1-1 in the second inning with a solo home run of his own.

In the top of the third inning, the Giants would break the tie and take the lead 2-1. The Dodgers tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and it was a new ball game. It didn’t take Los Angeles long to take back the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning 3-2 in this see-saw battle.

The Dodgers had a huge eighth inning busting this game wide open hitting back-to-back home runs taking a 5-2 lead. They would hit two more home runs in the inning taking an 8-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning.

GAME RECAP

Los Angeles starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow struck out a couple of batters on his way to a three and out in the first inning of tonight’s game. Dodger leadoff batter Mookie Betts hit a solo home run (his 53rd leadoff home run) and it was a nice start for the Dodgers taking the early 1-0 lead.

The Dodger lead didn’t last very long. In the second inning of the game it was all tied up when Jung Hoo Lee hit a solo home run to right. After that run Glasnow would strike out the next three at bats, five strikeouts so far in this game. Giants starting pitcher Cesar Perdomo gave up a walk but breezed through the inning.

Glasnow gave up his second hit of the game to Scott Bandura, a single in the top of the third inning. Bandura had made his MLB debut back on September 13 getting his first major league hit that day. This is his sixth day on the Giants’ roster.

With one out, Brantley Gilbert walked and the Giants had two runners on base. Not to be denied, San Francisco took advantage of the opportunity scoring a run when Jonah Cox singled Bandura home taking the lead 2-1. Los Angeles had some work to do.

Dodger starting pitcher Glasnow went three and out in the top of the fourth inning clocking a couple more strikeouts nine in total through four innings. While not throwing many strikes, Giants starter Perdomo was so far getting the job done and keeping Los Angeles from crossing home plate as this game went into the fifth inning.

Glasnow again went three and out in the top of the inning. San Francisco’s Perdomo got into a jam in the bottom of the fifth. He gave up a Josue De Paula single, followed by a Mookie Betts single and with one out he gave up a Teoscar Hernandez single driving in De Paula and tying up this game 2-2.

That tying run would finish Perdomo and he was relieved by Jason Foley. With two outs, Max Muncy came to the plate and grounded out and that would close out the inning. Foley closed out the fifth inning.

With the exception of an opening walk in the top of the sixth inning, Glasnow closed out the inning. The Dodgers took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kyle Tucker walked and with two outs De Paula doubled Tucker home breaking the tie 3-2. De Paula was having a solid game already with two hits and one RBI.

After closing out the sixth inning Tyler Glasnow was relieved by Kris Bubic to start the top of the seventh inning. Glasnow finished the game with ten strikeouts. Bubic gave up a single but finished off the inning. The bottom of the seventh saw Carson Seymour take over on the mound going three and out. This game was still up for grabs going into the eighth inning.

Philip Abner took the mound for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was a tough one for Abner giving up a solo home run to Max Muncy and the Dodgers had extended their lead to 4-2.

It went from bad to worse for Abner when the very next batter Kyle Tucker knocked one out of the park, back-to-back homers giving Los Angeles a 5-2 lead. Mookie Betts hit the third home run of the inning with De Paula on base giving the Dodgers a 7-2 lead.

This was his second home run of the game. The unbelievable happened when Will Smith hit the fourth home run of the inning. With two outs Abner was struggling to get out of the inning but finally got Hernandez out and the nightmarish inning had come to an end with Los Angeles breaking this game wide open by an 8-2 score.

Edwin Diaz closed out this game for the Dodgers. He gave up a single had a couple of strikeouts and Jung Hoo Lee fouled out and that was the ball game. Los Angeles had absolutely crushed the Giants 8-2.

GAME RECAP

Friday night’s game was of major importance to the Los Angeles Dodgers even though they have already clinched the NL West as of Thursday. The big issue right now is playoff seeding.

The Dodgers are trying to finish among the top two NL division winners which would earn them a first-round bye. This would send them directily into the NL Division Series. They currently have an advantage over Atlanta but they do need to keep on winning since Atlanta is still close behind.

Their magic number is six with nine games left to play. While San Francisco will not be playoff bound, they would have absolutely loved to play spoiler in this series.

Dodger starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow went six innings giving up only three hits, two runs, two walks with ten strikeouts. The Giants starter Cesar Perdomo went 4 2/3 innings allowing six hits, two earned runs, three walks and only one strikeout.

The turning point in this game was obviously the disastrous eighth inning. The Giants had played a pretty competitive game up until that point. They had led for some the game in the early innings but it was the four home runs in the eighth inning that turned the tide for Los Angeles breaking this game wide open.

There was not much going on offensively for the Giants coming away with only five hits while Los Angeles had 11, five of them home runs. This was a really frustrating game for San Francisco since they were competitive through the top of the eighth inning.

Saturday the Giants will be looking to bounce back. Probable starting pitcher for San Francisco will be Logan Webb. He has an 8-9 win/loss record and a 4.31 ERA. The Dodgers will start lefty Tarik Skubal. He has a 10-7 ERA 2.70. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:10 PM.