SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages hit home runs in the second inning to back Tarik Skubal's three-hit, seven-inning performance, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Friday night.
Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in his third game back after a 13-game stint on the injured list because of right biceps discomfort.
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San Francisco Giants pitcher Yunior Marte throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) smiles as he walks to the dugout after San Francisco Giants' Shay Whitcomb struck out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Skubal (12-7) struck out 10, including four straight during one stretch, and didn't walk a batter in his 10th start for the two-time defending World Series champions since being acquired from Detroit on Aug. 2. The Dodgers had won each of his previous six outings as he went 4-0 over his last four decisions spanning six starts since a loss to Milwaukee on Aug. 16.
It was the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner's fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season, second with Los Angeles.
Roki Sasaki pitched a perfect eighth with a pair of strikeouts before Tanner Scott finished the one hour, 53 minute game for his 24th save. It was the second-fastest game in the ballpark's 27-year history and the fastest Giants-Dodgers game since a 1:50 contest on Aug. 30, 1958, in the second game of a doubleheader, according to MLB.
Giants starter Yunior Marte (0-2) surrendered the two home runs among his six hits in five innings. Earlier in the day, San Francisco welcomed back former closer Camilo Doval, claimed off waivers after they dealt him to the Yankees ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Manager Dave Roberts gave utility man Tommy Edman a day off to rest and planned to sit some regulars or give them shorter stints in Sunday's regular-season finale.
Los Angeles has won six straight against the Giants and is 7-4 this year to capture the season series for a fifth straight season, going 47-22 during that time.
The Dodgers have held opponents to four or fewer runs in 108 games, going 82-26 in those contests.
LHP Blake Snell (4-1, 1.86 ERA) pitches Saturday against his former Giants team, which counters with LHP Matt Wilkinson (1-3, 3.65).
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
San Francisco Giants pitcher Yunior Marte throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) smiles as he walks to the dugout after San Francisco Giants' Shay Whitcomb struck out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A new European soccer league kicked off in Romania’s capital this week, giving amputee players from countries lacking domestic leagues an opportunity to compete on an international stage.
The European Amputee Football Federation, or EAFF, inaugurated the new Conference League in Bucharest. The games were held Thursday and Friday, and the final concluded on Friday when Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel was crowned the winner after beating Scotland’s Ayr United 4-0.
The victory meant a lot to Ben Binyamin of the team from Israel. Back in 2023, the Israeli player had his right leg blown off during the Hamas attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival, which left him fearing he would never play soccer again.
“I am very happy that we won this tournament, we won without conceding a single goal,” he told The Associated Press. “Football itself for us is our physiotherapy, our life, and our second family. It helps us in life. It gives us strength.”
Four teams participated in the tournament: FCSB of host nation Romania, Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel, Ayr United of Scotland and Panathinaikos AC PwD of Greece.
“We are very satisfied, very happy to bring pride to the country,” Binyamin added.
Inspired by the European club competition model in able-bodied soccer, the EAFF described the new league as a “historic milestone” that represents “another important step in the development of European amputee football.”
“The Conference League creates an international opportunity for clubs from countries where domestic amputee football leagues are not yet established,” it says on its website.
Played in a seven-versus-seven format, on 60-meter (196-foot) by 40-meter (131-foot) fields, amputee soccer is a game for amputees and people living with limb defects. Players have one leg and a pair of crutches, while goalkeepers have both legs but one hand or arm.
Established in 2015, the EAFF aims to help people with amputations or limb defects gain access to amputee soccer throughout Europe. The World Amputee Football Federation was established in 2002 and a World Cup is held every four years.
The new league hopes to attract more spectators to amputee soccer and gives teams opportunities to build international relationships. The EAFF also organizes a Nations League, Champions League, Europa League, and holds other initiatives like women’s and junior camps.
Iain Matthew, manager of the Scottish team, told the AP that while his team’s 0-4 loss to Maccabi Haifa was disappointing, the league itself offered valuable experience for his players.
“The competition is great for smaller nations … to get European football experience,” he said. “I think we could have played better, we could have defended better, but you’ve got to praise your players for what they’ve done over the week.”
McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.
Maccabi Haifa's Ben Binyamin poses with the trophy during the medal ceremony at the end of the amputee soccer inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Maccabi Haifa's players line up before an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
FCSB's Marian Sacacol, left, challenges for the ball with Ayr United's Charlie Hewson during an amputee soccer match between FCSB and Ayr United in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
FCSB's players warm-up before an amputee soccer match between FCSB and AFAS in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Panathinaikos' Vasileios Gogolos stretches during an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
