Skubal Fans 10 as Dodgers Blank Giants 2-0 in Playoff Prep
The short version
- Tarik Skubal struck out 10 over seven shutout innings on 75 pitches, allowing three hits and no walks.
- Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages homered to account for both Dodgers runs in the 2-0 win.
- Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott each threw a scoreless inning, with Scott recording the save.
- Will Smith went 3-for-4 in his continued return to the lineup.
Tarik Skubal struck out 10 over seven shutout innings, and home runs from Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages lifted Los Angeles past San Francisco.
Tarik Skubal delivered one of his sharpest outings of the season Thursday night, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. The left-hander struck out 10, walked none, and scattered three hits over seven innings on just 75 pitches.
The performance came a week after a rough start against these same Giants. This time Skubal was in control throughout, allowing only two hard-hit balls and keeping San Francisco's offense from generating any real threat.
Skubal's command numbers were striking. He threw 21 first-pitch strikes to the 23 batters he faced, landed 61% of his pitches in the strike zone, and finished with 80% of his pitches counted as strikes. He induced swings on 43 pitches, drawing 21 whiffs and 17 called strikes, with a 48% chase rate.
Given the low pitch count, Skubal could have gone for a complete-game shutout, but the Dodgers turned to the bullpen instead. Roki Sasaki worked a clean inning in relief, striking out two on 14 pitches without allowing a baserunner, and Tanner Scott followed with a scoreless frame of his own, fanning two to earn the save.
The Los Angeles offense was quiet outside of two swings. Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages each hit a home run, accounting for both Dodgers runs. The team finished with seven hits and a single walk in a game that had the feel of a late-season tune-up ahead of the postseason.
Catcher Will Smith continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-4. Smith, who returned to the lineup only a handful of weeks ago, did not drive in a run but has been building momentum as the playoffs approach.
Pages also added a second hit, finishing 2-for-3. Since coming off the injured list, the center fielder has strung together multiple strong offensive days, an encouraging sign for the Dodgers' October outlook.
The Dodgers and Giants close their series Sunday, September 27, at Oracle Park. First pitch is set for 3:05 PM EDT, with the game available on MLB.TV, NBC Sports BA, and SportsNet LA.
