Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Following an Opening Day stinker at Coors Field, the Dodgers came into tonight’s game riding a four-game winning streak. Guess they didn’t feel like having that come to an end, as they rode their power to an early lead and then rode Clayton Kershaw to maintain it in a 5-1 victory over the Athletics.
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After struggling in his season debut, Kershaw looked to bounce back against the A’s, but got off to a rough start in the 1st after surrendering back-to-back doubles to Jed Lowrie and Ramon Laureano to make it 1-0.
Chris Bassitt started the game for the Athletics and the bats looked comfortable against him early. After wasting a scoring chance in the 1st, Edwin Rios led the 2nd off with a single and Gavin Lux followed with a walk, then Austin Barnes tied the game with a double to make it 1-1.
The Dodgers let Bassitt off the hook after that, but came right back in the 3rd. Justin Turner started things with a single, and then Max Muncy lined a ball over the wall in right for his first homer of the year, a two-run shot to give the Dodgers a lead. Later in the inning, with one out, Rios continued the dong parade by adding his own first one of the year to make it 4-1.
Meanwhile, Kershaw rebounded from the tough start, making adjustments as he always does. Following the run-scoring double, Kershaw retired 20 of the next 22 batters, allowing just a single and a double after.
While he had just six whiffs in his Opening Day start, he racked up a whopping 21 against the A’s. His final line ended up impressive: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 91 Pitches.
Blake Treinen entered as the setup man and he looked extremely sharp. Despite issuing a very questionable five-pitch walk, he didn’t surrender anything else and had two strikeouts in a scoreless 8th.
While the bats didn’t do much after the 3rd, Mookie Betts also got on the dong scoreboard with a solo shot in the 9th to make it 5-1.
Treinen was allowed to start the 9th for some reason and gave up a single against the shift. Then Kenley Jansen was given the ball after his gritty five-out save in Colorado, and he continued his nice start to the season, issuing a walk but keeping a scoreless inning to end it.
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Orel Hershiser and Joe Davis spent a good amount of time this broadcast discussing grass.
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The Dodgers have now won five straight and sit at 5-1 on the season.
They will go for a sweep of the A’s tomorrow at 9:37 AM HST/12:37 PM PST/3:37 PM EST with Trevor Bauer facing Jesus Luzardo.
