Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Coming off a sweep of the Padres, the Dodgers are continuing to hold up their end of the bargain, winning their fourth straight tonight after a relatively easy 5-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Clayton Kershaw made his return and looked solid in limited work, and the offense once again did enough for the victory.
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The Dodgers welcomed back Kershaw to the rotation, certainly a sight for sore eyes, especially for an overworked bullpen. He got things off to a nice start with a strikeout of Nick Ahmed for his first out.
But he then gave up a double and walked a batter, proceeding to give up a bloop single with two outs to score the game’s first run and put the Dodgers down 1-0. He limited the damage from there, both in that inning and in general, allowing just a single and a double the rest of the way.
Welcome back, @ClaytonKersh22! pic.twitter.com/bNSee2iuD1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 14, 2021
He was clearly on a light pitch count, but he provided enough: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 50 Pitches.
You love to see it.
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 14, 2021
Standing ovation for No.22. 👏 pic.twitter.com/yqBPMEqQfa
The lineup has looked on the verge for a while now, but maybe they are finally putting some things together. They gave Kershaw early support tonight, striking back in the 1st inning with three of their own.
A Mookie Betts double was followed by a Max Muncy fly out to the track in left and a walk to corner the runners. Corey Seager then cashed the chance in with a single, and Justin Turner followed with a double to plate a pair and make it 3-1.
After having a run taken off the board in the 4th with Gavin Lux being called out at home upon review, the Dodgers added on again in the 6th behind a Lux walk and an Austin Barnes double to make it 4-1.
JT helped add some insurance in the 7th with a homer to make it 5-1.
D-back, back, back and gone. pic.twitter.com/QhcCjilWkt
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 14, 2021
The bullpen, meanwhile, continued to be great. Phil Bickford took over in the 5th and got three outs, Alex Vesia followed with two outs on strikeouts, and Corey Knebel got a perfect 7th.
Mitch White stepped up to give the Dodgers length in the 8th and 9th, pitching two perfect frames to end it.
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The Dodgers get to 92-53 on the season, but remain 2.5 games back of the Giants in the NL West.
