Los Angeles Dodgers @ San Francisco Giants (game 1)

Friday night's game was the first game of a 3-game series between LA and SF.  Although Los Angeles is almost certainly going to win the division, these games are really important for san Francisco as they chase for the last wild card spot in the playoffs.

It's also my first change to see the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, the superstar player frm Japan, who is a two-way player: he pitches at a high level and is an excellent hitter as well.  Since the National League adopted the Designated Hitter - that means that there is a batter who hits instead of the pitcher - the league also modified the rules to permit Ohtani to hit and pitch in the same game but importantly, to continue to hit after being removed as a pitcher, which wouldn't normally have been allowed.

This is the first game I've been to this year where it's been a sell-out and everybody turned up.  The attendance was over 40,000 which is double what any previous game has had. 

Justin Verlander started this game for San Francisco and was as reliable as you could ever want, and kept Ohtani quiet.  He just rolled along like last time in St Louis, although he did give up four hits, and just one run, over seven innings.  San Francisco only managed to score one in return, however, as Dodger pitcher Yamamoto also went 7 innings giving up one run.

So it went to extra innings and in the 10th inning, a superb defensive play by McCray throwing out a runner at 3rd base from right field to eliminate the automatic baserunner and keep Los Angeles off the scoreboard.

Then the bottom of the 10th inning become increasing exciting as the Giants got the winning run to 3rd base, and then had the bases loaded for catcher Patrick Bailey, who doesn't have great offensive numbers this year, but he swung his bat hard and managed to hit a home run over the left field wall for a walk-off grand slam to win the game 5-1.  

 After the game, the stands were shaking with all the people jumping up and down in celebration.

Then after 15 minutes or so, we had the Friday post-game fireware  It always helps to have had a home win before the fireworks, and although the fireworks weren't as good as last Friday's in St Louis, they were quite good.