San Francisco (10-13) opened a three-game series against the Dodgers (16-7) on Tuesday. The Giants won the series opener, 3-1, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California.
Tuesday's contest was the first for San Francisco manager Tony Vitello in the Giants-Dodgers rivalry. He is in his first season with the Giants after serving as Tennessee's head coach from 2018-25.
After the game, Vitello discussed what beating Los Angeles means for San Francisco.
"It gives you permission to be confident," Vitello said. "Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan - those guys don't need the win column, or statistics, or permission, to be confident. It's an undying thing. That's ideal."
Game 2 between the Dodgers and Giants is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. A series finale is slated for Thursday at 3:45 p.m. EDT.
Vitello compiled a 341–131 (125–85 SEC) record at Tennessee.
He guided the Vols to a 2024 national championship, two SEC Tournament titles (2022, 2024), two SEC regular season championships (2022, 2024) and three College World Series appearances (2021, 2023-24).
More: Tony Vitello joins Dick Howser in going directly from college baseball to MLB
Tony Vitello on what beating the Dodgers to open up the series means for this team."It gives you permission to be confident. Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan... those guys don't need the win column or statistics or permission to be confident. It's an undying thing. That's ideal." pic.twitter.com/psWC7oua1G
March 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.Harrison Bader #9 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated at the dugout by Willy Adames #2 after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.Matt Gage #93 of the San Francisco Giants gestures after pitching the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.Patrick Bailey #14 and Ryan Walker #74 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.Heliot Ramos #17, Harrison Bader #9 and Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.Luis Arraez #1 and Harrison Bader #9 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.March 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1) waves to the fans before a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.March 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.March 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) is congratulated by Patrick Bailey (14) after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.March 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.March 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.1 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.1 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.2 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winHarrison Bader #9 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated at the dugout by Willy Adames #2 after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.3 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winJung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.4 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMatt Gage #93 of the San Francisco Giants gestures after pitching the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.5 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winPatrick Bailey #14 and Ryan Walker #74 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.6 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winHeliot Ramos #17, Harrison Bader #9 and Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.7 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winLuis Arraez #1 and Harrison Bader #9 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.8 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1) waves to the fans before a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.9 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.10 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) is congratulated by Patrick Bailey (14) after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.11 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.12 / 12PHOTOS: San Francisco celebrates in Tony Vitello's first MLB winMarch 30, 2026; San Diego, California; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tony Vitello discusses what beating the Dodgers means for Giants