Monday, August 12, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
The Los Angeles Dodgers started their seven-game road trip with a win that made them have the best record in the National League. For the first time since his shoulder surgery, Clayton Kershaw went into the sixth inning and earned the win. Mookie Betts returned to the lineup for the first time since June 15th and blasted a two-run homer and drove in the fifth run. Shohei Ohtani blasted a two-run homer. The Dodgers swatted the Milwaukee Brewers 5-to-2.
When the Dodgers activated Mookie Betts, they released Amed Rosario. They traded for Rosario when they thought Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas might miss the remainder of the season. Rojas is already back, and the Dodgers expect Muncy to be back at the start of the next homestand. Rosario will be picked up soon.
Having Betts back makes the Dodgers much better than they were. Last week, Betts and the Dodgers decided Betts would return to right field where he won six Gold Gloves. He found playing shortstop the “most difficult” thing he has done athletically. While Betts hasn’t had a rehab assignment, he might struggle for a few weeks.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the first.
Clayton Kershaw made his fourth start of the season where he has experienced much success. He had a perfect first inning.
Will Smith walked with two outs in the second but was erased by a force play.
To start the second, Kershaw allowed a double and a walk. He escaped from the jam.
Kiké Hernández opened the third with an infield single and was advanced to second with Kevin Kiermaier’s sacrifice bunt. He went to third on a wild pitch. Betts blasted a two-run homer.
Kershaw was perfect in the third.
With two outs in the fourth, Smith walked and went to third on Rojas’ single. The Dodgers stranded the runners.
Kershaw was perfect in the fourth with eight pitches.
To open the fifth, Kiermaier singled, and Shohei Ohtani blasted a two-run homer.
Kershaw allowed a single to open the fifth and balked the runner to second. He walked a batter. He escaped from the jam scorelessly.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the sixth.
For the first time this season, Kershaw was pitching into the sixth. With an out in the sixth, he allowed a single. With two outs in the sixth, Dave Roberts lifted Kershaw after eighty-one pitches.
Joe Kelly relieved Kershaw by allowing a two-run homer. He allowed two singles but escaped the jam without allowing any more runs.
With two outs in the seventh, Ohtani walked and stole second, and Betts singled in Ohtani. Betts stole second. Betts was stranded.
Alex Vesia relieved Kelly with a perfect seventh inning.
The Dodgers struck out in the eighth.
Michael Kopech walked a batter with two outs in the eighth but struck out the last batter.
the Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the eighth.
Daniel Hudson relieved Kopech in the ninth and preserved the victory.
