LOGAN WEBB

Only the San Francisco Giants themselves envisioned a season with success quite like this.

A stellar season for the San Francisco Giants ended when Wilmer Flores was called out on a disputed check-swing to end a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deciding Game 5 of the NL Division Series.

Cody Bellinger hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and prized midseason acquisition Max Scherzer came out of the bullpen for his first career save, sending the Los Angeles Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in a thrilling winner-take-all Game 5 and into the NL Championship Series.

Mays then keyed a four-run rally in the ninth inning to win 6-4 in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. Boston manager Alex Cora will certainly draw a lot of attention in the lead-up to Game 1 Friday night. Cora was Houston's bench coach when it won the 2017 World Series, then became the Red Sox manager and guided them to the 2018 championship. Long was under Phillies manager Joe Girardi for seven years when they were with the Yankees and won the World Series in 2009. After then-Nationals star Max Scherzer was checked by umpires for sticky substances, Girardi and Long got into a shouting match.

Sooner than many baseball fans wanted, maybe, but the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers will meet in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the NL Division Series at Oracle Park.

Mays then keyed a four-run rally in the ninth inning to win 6-4 in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. Boston manager Alex Cora will certainly draw a lot of attention in the lead-up to Game 1 Friday night. Cora was Houston's bench coach when it won the 2017 World Series, then became the Red Sox manager and guided them to the 2018 championship. Long was under Phillies manager Joe Girardi for seven years when they were with the Yankees and won the World Series in 2009. After then-Nationals star Max Scherzer was checked by umpires for sticky substances, Girardi and Long got into a shouting match.

APTOPIX NLDS Dodgers Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb reacts after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner during the sixth inning of Game 1 of a baseball National League Division Series Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/John Hefti) (John Hefti)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Everybody expected a playoff series for the ages between the century-old rival Dodgers and Giants, and now they've got it. It's the 107-win, NL West champion Giants vs. the defending World Series champ Los Angeles Dodgers for a place in the NL Championship Series against Atlanta starting Saturday night. San Francisco has won 12 and LA 11. After topping Los Angeles ace Sandy Koufax in the opener, San Francisco lost the next day.

Everybody expected a playoff series for the ages between the century-old rival Dodgers and Giants, and now they’ve got it.

After a season of piling up whopping win totals, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers get a day to prep for their all-or-nothing matchup in Game 5 of the NL Division Series.

I mean, I think, as I understand, all the series are done and so we’re going to be the only show in town. This will be the third time that two heated rivals will meet in a deciding game to see who advances. “I don’t think we’re going to spend a lot of time dissecting as a team this game. I think we’re going to get on the plane, have an off day, a real off day,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. Roberts said before Tuesday's game that Julio Urías will get the call in the deciding game.

It is only fitting that 70 years after Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ’Round the World” that the Giants and Dodgers will play in another all-or-nothing game.

Mookie Betts homered and drove in three runs, Will Smith also went deep and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-2 to force a decisive Game 5 in their NL Division Series.

Julio Urías shut down San Francisco and contributed an RBI single for his cause, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock delivered two-run doubles to blow it open in the sixth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pounded the Giants 9-2 to even their NL Division Series at one game apiece.

APTOPIX NLDS Dodgers Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb reacts after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner during the sixth inning of Game 1 of a baseball National League Division Series Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in San Francisco. Just last Sunday, Webb pitched the Giants past the Padres in the regular-season finale as San Francisco clinched the club’s first division title since 2012. Kapler said Posey could play every postseason game, and why not? This marked his first postseason home run since Game 4 of the 2012 World Series at Detroit off Max Scherzer. Webb dazzled on a night San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Young led the “Beat LA!” chant before first pitch.

Logan Webb struck out 10 pitching masterfully in his postseason debut, Buster Posey hit a two-run homer that held up, and the 107-win San Francisco Giants blanked the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in the opener of their NL Division Series.

Logan Webb pumped his fists as he set down a star-studded Dodgers lineup all game long, then raised his pitching hand in appreciation after a masterful postseason debut. Webb struck out 10 while working into the eighth inning, Buster Posey hit a two-run homer that held up, and the 107-win San Francisco Giants blanked defending World Series champion Los Angeles 4-0 on Friday night in the opener of their NL Division Series. Webb credited Posey’s presence behind the plate in helping him excel.

NLDS Dodgers Giants Baseball The San Francisco Giants work out Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in San Francisco for the baseball team's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which starts Friday. They were about as even as you can get meeting head-to-head this year: the Giants won the season series 10-9, while the Dodgers outscored San Francisco 80-78. Los Angeles will counter with right-hander Walker Buehler, a 16-game winner over 33 starts who went 3-1 against San Francisco this year. Giolito put together a strong finish to the regular season, going 2-0 with a 2.39 ERA in his last seven starts. Framber Valdez starts Game 2 for Houston.

The 107-win Giants and 106-win Dodgers are ready to throw out all those wins and settle their season-long clash with a best-of-five NL Division Series in San Francisco.

Two septuagenarians will be on the bench when 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa and the Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros and 72-year-old skipper Dusty Baker in their playoff opener Thursday.

SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Logan Webb will start for the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Friday night against the Cardinals or Dodgers. “To be able to throw the first game for the best team in the league is pretty cool,” Webb said after his bullpen session Wednesday. This has been an exciting month, two months, three months for Logan on many different levels, including what's happened in the batter's box,” Kapler said. “I do think St. Louis or Los Angeles could factor into where we decided to go for Game 3,” Kapler said. Whether Webb can top that home run he hit in front of a packed house and so many family and friends, who knows?

Padres Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey hits a two-run single against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Logan Webb did it all in leading San Francisco to its first division crown since 2012, delighting a delirious, deafening crowd of 36,901. Posey drove in three runs on a pair of singles and notched his 1,500th career hit as San Francisco's division hopes came down to the final day. The Dodgers had won the last eight NL West titles since the Giants last did so nine years ago. Webb delivered just as Jonathan Sanchez did pitching the Giants past the Padres on the final day in 2010 to advance the club to its first playoff appearance in six years.

The San Francisco Giants finally won the NL West without needing to wait for the rival Dodgers' result on the season’s final day, pounding the San Diego Padres 11-4 for a franchise-record 107th victory to top the 1904 New York team.

The San Francisco Giants missed a chance to clinch the NL West, falling to the San Diego Padres 3-2 when Jake Cronenworth hit an RBI double in the 10th inning.

Braves Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford, foreground, slides into home to score the winning run past Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud during the 11th inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Pinch-hitting pitcher Kevin Gausman lofted a full-count, bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 11th inning and the San Francisco Giants edged the Atlanta Braves 6-5 Friday night to increase their NL West lead. San Francisco starter Logan Webb struck out nine and didn't walk a batter, allowing two runs on six hits. The Braves had won six of the last seven in San Francisco, where they played for the first time since May 2019. Solano's shot marked the franchise-record 16th pinch-homer by San Francisco this season.

Pinch-hitting pitcher Kevin Gausman lofted a full-count, bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 11th inning and the San Francisco Giants edged the Atlanta Braves 6-5 to increase their NL West lead.

Kevin Gausman heard the boos when he stepped into the batter’s box, realizing right away the fans had no idea the Giants were down to their last options with no position players left. “Oh man, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my entire career,” Gausman said. The Giants, saved when Donovan Solano came off the COVID-19 injured list and connected for a tying, pinch-hit home run with two outs in the ninth, moved two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division race.

Two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been scratched from his scheduled start for the Angels against Oakland because of a sore right arm that could sideline him as a pitcher for the rest of the season.

Thairo Estrada hit a three-run homer during San Francisco’s four-run eighth inning, and the Giants beat the Brewers 5-1 to avoid a four-game sweep.

Jace Peterson hit a go-ahead single in the seventh, Lorenzo Cain homered for a second straight game and the Milwaukee Brewers knocked the San Francisco Giants out of the top spot in the National League for the first time in more than three months.

Giants Braves Baseball San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Atlanta. Webb (8-3) was dominant in his 13th consecutive start in which he has not allowed more than two runs. La Stella gave San Francisco a 1-0 lead with a deep homer to right field off Huascar Ynoa (4-4) in the first. Webb doubled past third baseman Austin Riley, moved to second on LaMonte Wade Jr.'s single and scored on La Stella's sacrifice fly. The inning ended on second baseman Ozzie Albies' over-the-shoulder catch of La Stella's fly ball in shallow center field.

Logan Webb threw seven strong innings to win his seventh consecutive decision, Tommy La Stella and Mike Yastrzemski each homered and drove in two runs, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0.

Logan Webb's ability to cover for a teammate's error in a key sixth-inning jam has San Francisco in position for yet another series win. Webb threw seven strong innings to win his seventh consecutive decision, Tommy La Stella and Mike Yastrzemski each homered and drove in two runs, and the Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Saturday night to even the series between NL division leaders. San Francisco bounced back after Friday night’s 6-5 loss to the Braves in the series opener snapped its five-game winning streak.

Giants Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler watches his three-run home run during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in Atlanta. Wilmer Flores led off the ninth with a homer against Braves closer Will Smith to trim Atlanta’s lead to one. Buster Posey hit a two-run homer in his return to San Francisco's lineup and the Giants led 4-2 before the Braves rallied with four runs in the seventh. After Ozzie Albies' RBI double off Tony Watson (5-4) trimmed the Giants' lead to one, Soler hit Zack Littell's first pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run lead. Celebrating with his teammates in the Braves' dugout, Soler pulled off his batting helmet to reveal a “Soler Power” headband.

Jorge Soler hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning, Joc Pederson made a leaping catch at the wall for the final out and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat San Francisco 6-5 to end the Giants’ five-game winning streak.

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:___NEGATIVE NEWSRed Sox infielder Kiké Hernández tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and will be sidelined indefinitely. He’ll be placed on the COVID-19 list along with second baseman Christian Arroyo, who had close contact with Hernández. WEBB GEMSGiants right-hander Logan Webb takes a 12-start unbeaten streak into an outing against Atlanta in a showdown of division leaders. His best year was 2017, when he hit .303 with 23 homers and 90 RBIs as the scandal-tained Astros won the World Series. His most famous victory came in the clinching Game 5 of the 1969 World Series against Baltimore that gave the Miracle Mets their first championship.

Red Sox infielder Kiké Hernández tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Aledmys Díaz had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Houston Astros to 5-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

In-state interleague matchups take center stage in several locales Friday as the Chicago White Sox play the Cubs in a Wrigley Field matinee, the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Angels, and the Kansas City Royals visit the St. Louis Cardinals.

Kris Bryant homered in his Giants debut, a two-out solo shot in the third inning, and San Francisco beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Sunday.

Dodgers Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey hits an RBI single in front of Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Buster Posey scored the tiebreaking run on a throwing error by first baseman Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night. EXTRA BASESThe Giants’ 63 wins are their third-most through 100 games in the San Francisco era. UP NEXTDodgers RHP Walker Buehler (10-1, 2.31 ERA) has allowed three earned runs in 27 innings over four starts against San Francisco this season. Giants RHP Anthony DeSclafani (10-4, 2.87) has two losses and a pair of no-decisions against Los Angeles this year.

Buster Posey scored the tiebreaking run on a throwing error by first baseman Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1.

The Dodgers and Giants are back at it Tuesday night, renewing their long rivalry in San Francisco with 12-game winner Julio Urias on the mound for Los Angeles against Logan Webb in the opener of a three-game series.

Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2.

Pinch-hitter Will Smith connected for a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from five runs down to defeat the San Francisco Giants 8-6 in the second game of a pivotal series between NL West rivals.

Rookie reliever Daniel Camarena hit a stunning grand slam off Washington ace Max Scherzer and the San Diego Padres overcame an eight-run deficit, finally beating the Nationals 9-8 on Trent Grisham’s RBI single in the ninth inning.

Anthony DeSclafani threw 8 2/3 effective innings, Austin Slater and Darin Ruf both homered and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 for their third straight victory.

Brandon Crawford homered and drove in three runs as the San Francisco Giants sent the Arizona Diamondbacks to their 20th straight road loss with a 5-2 victory.

Giants left fielder Mike Tauchman remarkably reached over the wall to rob Albert Pujols of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and San Francisco broke through in the 10th to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 in a thriller.

Cody Bellinger is ready to return from a broken leg that’s sidelined him for nearly two months.

The Padres said Tatis had discomfort in his non-throwing left shoulder and would be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Corbin Burnes turned in 4 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing two runs on three hits. Jon Lester allowed one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings in his second start of the spring for Washington. He gave up five hits, hit two batters and struck out three. PADRES 5, REDS 4MacKenzie Gore worked 3 2/3 innings in his third start for San Diego, allowing two runs on three hits.

Starter Zach Eflin pitched four shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out four without a walk. ROCKIES 2, MARINERS 1Kyle Freeland allowed three hits in four shutout innings in his second start for Colorado, striking out four. Seattle's Marco Gonzales threw four shutout innings in his second start, allowing two hits while striking out four. Martín Pérez made his second start, allowing two hits and a walk in four scoreless innings. ATHLETICS 5, REDS 2 (7)Oakland lefty Sean Manaea struck out four in three innings, allowing one run and three hits.