LOS ANGELES (AP) — Olivier Giroud made his Los Angeles FC debut Tuesday night during a Leagues Cup Round of 16 match against the San Jose Earthquakes.
The 37-year-old French striker came on as a substitute in the 71st minute of LAFC's 4-1 victory. He had a chance inside the box in the 90th minute, but his shot was blocked by San Jose's Daniel Munie near the goal.
Giroud signed with LAFC in May and had his first practice with the club on Aug. 3. He comes to the United States after spending 18 years in the top professional leagues in France, England and Italy. That included the past four seasons with AC Milan. He has 285 goals in 716 club matches.
“I wish I could play even more tonight, but it was a good first step. I'm looking forward to the next game,” Giroud said. “I need my fitness back. When you restart a season you need to work hard at training, but I understand what the manager is expecting from me and I will try to get ready as soon as possible.”
Prior to Tuesday night, Giroud's most recent action was with France last month in the European Championship. He came off the bench in four games, including a 2-1 loss to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals on July 9.
Giroud is the second French player on LAFC, joining goaltender and former national teammate Hugo Lloris.
LAFC is at Seattle on Saturday in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal match.
AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
French forward Olivier Giroud poses with his wife Jennifer and their four children during a press conference at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, Thursday, August 1, 2024. Giroud held his first press conference with Los Angeles FC since announcing in May he would sign with the Major League Soccer club. (David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP)
French forward Olivier Giroud is introduced to Los Angeles FC fans during a press conference at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. Giroud holds his first press conference with Los Angeles FC since announcing in May he would sign with the Major League Soccer club. (David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP)
PHOENIX (AP) — Rhys Hoskins hit a two-run homer, Freddy Peralta pitched five effective innings and the Milwaukee Brewers increased their NL Central lead with a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Hoskins hit his 24th homer off Eduardo Rodriguez (2-3) in the fourth inning and five Milwaukee pitchers shut down baseball’s highest-scoring offense. Peralta (11-8) allowed a run on six hits and Devin Williams worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.
The Brewers extended their NL Central lead to 10 games after the Chicago Cubs lost 9-5 to Colorado.
“Freddy wasn’t his best self, but he bobbed and weaved, gave us five,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “We got some big outs at the end. The bullpen was really good.”
Arizona was limited to six hits to drop into a tie with San Diego for the top NL wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks remain five games back of Los Angeles in the NL West following the Dodgers' 6-2 loss to Atlanta.
“Ww built some innings, but we just couldn't get that big hit,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We couldn't get into that space where we had the slug that broke the game open.”
Both starters were sharp.
Peralta walked two in the first inning and gave up a run on Pavin Smith’s sacrifice fly and worked around traffic the rest of his outing. The right-hander had five strikeouts and four walks in his second straight season with 30 starts.
“My goal from the begining was to put up zeroes, whether it was four innings or seven,” Peralta said. “I know the guys behind me are going to do it — our bullpen is great.”
Rodriguez struck out seven through the first three innings before Hoskins hit a two-run homer off the base of the second deck in the fourth. It was the only two runs the left-hander allowed on five hits in five innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks.
“I felt pretty good. The only pitch I felt I missed was a sinker and when you miss a pitch, you pay for it,” Rodriguez said. “The last three or four games I've missed a pitch to the wrong guy and paid for it.”
The Brewers helped Rodriguez with shoddy baserunning.
Jackson Chourio got picked off first by Rodriguez in the third inning and a throw behind Garrett Mitchell by Arizona catcher Jose Herrera led to a forceout at third after a rundown.
“Those guys don’t have a full year in the major leagues and we’re an aggressive team, so it’s going to happen,” Murphy said.
TRAINER'S TABLE
Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (groin) is expected to be activated from the injured list early next week. ... OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left calf) also could be back in the lineup later in the week.
UP NEXT
Brewers RHP Tobias Myers (7-5, 2.93 ERA) was set to face RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-8, 4.42) on Saturday.
AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins (12) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a double against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker trying to advance in the third inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
