Cueto Gets Pulled Early in LA Season Opener
SF Giants fall to LA Dodgers in Fan-less Opener
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws to Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy during the first inning of an opening day baseball game Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2020.07.23 – Johnny Cueto gets pulled and the San Francisco Giants lost its shimmy in the LA opener as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the rival Giants 8-1 in a fan-less and shortened season opened.
Cueto started for the Giants, allowing one run and five hits over four innings. He struck out three and walked one.
It was the veteran right-hander first Opening Day assignment for the Giants. The 34-year-old veteran had pitched seven innings in each of his four previous Opening Day starts with the Reds, but the accelerated ramp-up this year meant he wasn’t as ready, as he could be, after a normal six-week Spring Training.
2020.07.23 (San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers) See video
2020.07.23 (San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers) See video
Cueto, who is accustomed to pitching deep into games, said he is still adjusting to the Giants’ new strategies, which could call for starters to be pulled before they are left exposed.
Things got a bit tougher for Cueto in the fourth inning as the Dodgers tied the game 1-1 on an Enrique Hernandez single that scored Corey Seager, who doubled in the previous at-bat.
“You have to adjust to everything in life, but it’s uncomfortable,” Cueto said in Spanish. “It’s the first time I’ve experienced this in my career, and I’ve been in the Majors for 12 years.”
Left-hander Drew Smyly, a projected member of the rotation, took over for Cueto in the fifth inning and worked around an error by third baseman Wilmer Flores to post a scoreless inning. Tyler Rogers (0-1) took the loss.
Mookie Betts went 1 for 5 with two strikeouts, a day after signing a $365 million contract covering 2021-32 with the Dodgers.
Betts spoke without his bat when he knelt during the national anthem. Teammates Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy stood resting a hand on each of his shoulders. Giants manager Gabe Kapler, in his first game as Bruce Bochy’s successor, knelt, too.
“It was just unity,” Betts said. “We’re all on the same team, we’re all here for change, even the Giants.”
Betts singled in the seventh inning for his first hit as a Los Angeles Dodger, then signaled for the ball. That, along with the lineup card, is headed for a display in his house.
“This is something I’ll always remember,” Betts said “It’s just a new chapter in life.”
Justin Turner grounded into a fielder’s choice and Betts beat San Francisco’s second baseman Donovan Solano’s throw to the plate to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the seventh. The Giants lost their video challenge of the call after Betts slid head-first.
“If that out is recorded at the plate, I think we’re talking about a much different game,” Kapler said.
Kiké Hernández homered and drove in five runs while tying his career high with four hits for Los Angeles.
“It’s a great feeling,” Hernández said.
Betts struck out with the bases loaded, ending a five-run inning that made it 6-1.
Adam Kolarek (1-0) got the victory with 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Dustin May became the first Dodgers rookie to start on opening day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 after Clayton Kershaw went on the injured list because of a back issue.
May allowed one run and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 right-hander struck out four and walked none.
“It’s the kind of thing you dream about, throwing on opening day,” May said. “Once the first pitch was thrown I was all good and ready to get going.”
May originally was not on the 30-man active roster, and the 22-year-old found himself pressed into duty after Kershaw’s back stiffened during a weight room workout on Tuesday.
Pablo Sandoval’s sacrifice fly scored San Francisco’s lone run.
THE SOUNDS OF THE GAME
All sound were amplified with only cardboard cutouts of fans in areas of the stands. The crack of the bat on a sharply hit ball. The DJ’s music echoing. Foul balls clunking loudly upon landing in the seats. The home plate umpire’s third-strike calls easily heard.
PREGAME CEREMONY
The Giants and Dodgers held a black ribbon that wound along the baselines in a show of unity after pregame introductions. Anthem singer Keith Williams Jr. stood in the new center field seating to perform instead of the usual spot near home plate.
Most of the Giants kneeled during the performance. Reliever Sam Coonrod chose not to join his teammates, saying that he found out about his teammates’ plan just beforehand. “I meant no ill will by it. I don’t think I’m better than anyone,” Coonrod said. “I’m a Christian, so I just believe that I can’t kneel before anything besides God.”
In a video, 98-year-old Rachel Robinson, whose husband, Jackie, broke the major league color barrier in 1947, gave the traditional call of “It’s time for Dodger baseball!”
TRAINING ROOM
Giants: 1B Brandon Belt and 3B Evan Longoria are starting the season on the injured list.
Dodgers: Joining Kershaw on the IL are C Keibert Ruiz and RHP Scott Alexander.
UP NEXT
The Giants did not announce a starter for Friday night. RHP Ross Stripling goes for the Dodgers, replacing David Price in the rotation after Price opted out of the season. He was 2-3 with a 3.60 ERA as a starter last year.
Related: See below 2020.07.24 (San Francisco Giants vs. LA Dodgers)
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Muncy homers twice, leads Stripling, Dodgers over Giants 9-1
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy, right, is congratulated by Justin Turner after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2020.07.24 – Max Muncy homered twice and doubled, Ross Stripling pitched seven neat innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 9-1 on Friday night.
A day after beating the Giants 8-1 on opening day, the NL West champion Dodgers scored in every inning except the third and outhit the Giants 13-4.
NL MVP Cody Bellinger raised his arms as if encouraging the fake crowd cheers when the game ended.
Mookie Betts notched his first RBI for Los Angeles in going 1 for 6. He went 1 for 5 in the opener, having signed a 12-year, $365 million contract the previous day.
Muncy hit solo shots in the first off Tyler Anderson and in the sixth off Kevin Gausman. He and Justin Turner doubled back-to-back in the fourth.
Corey Seager added three hits for the Dodgers.
2020.07.24 (San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers) See video
2020.07.24 (San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers) See video
Jaylin Davis, who knelt during the national anthem, homered leading off the third. The Giants remained winless under new manager Gabe Kapler.
Stripling (1-0) allowed four hits, walked none and struck out seven.
At spring training, the Dodgers told Stripling that he wouldn’t be starting. He got into the rotation after left-hander David Price opted out of the shortened season, delaying his Dodgers debut until 2021.
An All-Star two years ago, Stripling was 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA last season when he split time between the rotation and bullpen.
Tyler Anderson (0-1) gave up two runs and three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked three.
WHEN A PANDA FALLS
Chris Taylor went down hard in a collision with Giants first baseman Pablo Sandoval in the fifth. Taylor was charging to first when Sandoval leaped high to try to catch a throw from third baseman Wilmer Flores that sailed over his head. Sandoval crashed down on Taylor, hitting him in the head. Taylor got up and rested on his knees, trying to catch his breath. He stayed in the game as did Sandoval.
WATCHING FROM HOME
Price was interviewed from home during the game by the Dodgers’ TV network. He had said he’d be watching and keeping up with his teammates via text during the shortened season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw’s back issue that forced him to miss his opening day start is improving and he hopes to return soon. Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw had an MRI after tweaking his back three days earlier. It showed no structural damage. “It’s not too serious,” Kershaw said. “It’s getting better pretty quick.”
UP NEXT
The Giants had yet to name a starter for Saturday. LHP Alex Wood goes for the Dodgers. He is 4-3 with a 3.90 ERA against the Giants.
Related: See 2020.07.25 (San Francisco Giants vs. LA Dodgers)
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
49ERS FIT – FREE 4-DAY PASS
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.