Clayton Kershaw led another strong pitching performance and J.D. Martinez reached a personal milestone as the Los Angeles Dodgers started their road trip with a 5-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
The bottom of the Dodgers lineup again helped manufacture offense, with James Outman’s RBI single in the second inning breaking an early scoreless tie. Miguel Rojas added a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Martinez then hit his first of two home runs in the third inning to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
That was more than enough for Kershaw, who didn’t allow a baserunner until Elias Díaz led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk.
Clayton Kershaw, Cooperstown Curveballs. 👑 pic.twitter.com/rWGseVeiEy
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 28, 2023
Just Dingers 💥 pic.twitter.com/JCJHWYoMrA
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 28, 2023
Career homer No.3⃣0⃣0⃣! pic.twitter.com/bzLdbSfqrd
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 28, 2023
Kershaw kept a no-hitter intact until a line drive to the left of third base got by Max Muncy for a single with one out in the sixth inning. Kershaw came out of the game at 79 pitches, with just two strikeouts as he pitched to soft contact for much of the night.
In his postgame interview, Kershaw acknowledged he didn’t feel fully healthy but downplayed initial concern.
Brusdar Graterol and Bryan Frasier each completed a scoreless inning, but Phil Bickford walked the bases loaded in the ninth. That prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turn to Evan Phillips for the final out of the game.
J.D. Martinez on list of Dodgers to hit 300 home runs
Martinez became the seventh player to reach 300 career home runs while playing for the Dodgers.
The group also includes Duke Snider (1957), Gil Hodges (1958), Gary Sheffield (2001), Adrián González (2016) and Freddie Freeman (2023). Freeman accomplished the feat in a road loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
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