For the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants moved to California, the Dodgers and Giants played a game with the Giants as World Series Champions.

My original plan for Monday night was to attend the Sacramento Kings game. The Kings are threatening to move after this season and I have not been to a Kings game since December 20, 1994. However, as the afternoon moved along, I decided I did not want to make the long two hour drive to Sacramento (which would be longer when we hit traffic). When my friend showed up, I asked him if he wanted to go the Giants game instead. Of course, he said that was a much better idea.

Pre Game Dining
Since we were planning to drive to Sacramento we had a lot of time before the Giants game started after taking the train up to San Francisco. The first place we went was Pete’s Tavern which is located right across the street from AT&T Park. As we entered Pete’s Tavern, we were told that if we said anything hostile to any Dodgers fan we would be kicked out of the restaurant – a proactive approach to any retribution from the attack on Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium.

Next, we went to O’Neill’s Irish Pub located at 747 3rd St. – a place that I have always seen when walking to AT&T Park from downtown San Francisco. Thus, I wanted to check out the place. It was definitely crowded so we left after a drink to buy tickets to the game.

Beg, Borrow and Deal
Since tickets on StubHub were much cheaper than tickets on the street Sunday afternoon, I decided to take the StubHub approach this time. Tickets never got as cheap as they did on Sunday bottoming out at $10 each ($15 each with StubHub fees).

This was probably cheaper than we could have found on the street, but also eliminated the possibility of receiving a free ticket – probably a rare feat on the first Dodgers game of the season. Also, buying on StubHub leaves you with a paper ticket rather than a hard ticket – another negative if you care.

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
For the fourth game in a row, the Giants held a ceremony before the game. However, this time it was not a celebration, but a dedication. Both the Giants and Dodgers were on the field before the game, dedicating the game to Bryan Stow who was beaten outside Dodger Stadium after the season opener.

Clayton Kershaw shut down the Giants as the Dodgers won 6-1. Kershaw has now thrown 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings against the Giants.

Post Game Dining
We decided to go out after the game as well and ended up at Zeke’s located on the corner of 3rd St. and Brannan St. Going there was probably a mistake as we missed the express train back to San Carlos. Instead we were on a train that made every stop back to San Carlos which took forever.