The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled away from the Houston Astros for a 9-2 victory that matched their season-best winning streak at eight games. L.A. also remained undefeated through four games of the their road trip on a night that elicited memories from the 2017 World Series.
Although the Dodgers made a visit to Minute Maid Park last season, this marked the first time playing in front of fans at the Astros’ home ballpark since their Fall Classic matchup that became tarnished by a cheating scandal.
Former teammates Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw went toe-to-toe, with each turning in a perfect game through three innings. Greinke lost his on a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts in the fourth, which was followed by Justin Turner going to right-center field for his first home run since May 4.
“I’ve been feeling a lot better,” Turner said of his at-bats during a recent slump. “Feel like I’m taking good at-bats, quality contact, driving balls.”
Turn the bass up just a notch. pic.twitter.com/X1goWub1ZR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2021
Clutch Taylor. pic.twitter.com/jGRczabzsZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2021
Where the wild things are. pic.twitter.com/FxVJGGQ7bG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2021
Kershaw Day in Houston. pic.twitter.com/UZ3fjeCkHt
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2021
The Dodgers added to their lead on Chris Taylor’s two-run single in the sixth inning and effectively blew the game open in the eighth when the Astros issued three consecutive walks with the bases loaded. Gavin Lux’s fielder choice in the ninth scored a final run for L.A.
Kershaw returns to scene of crime
On the mound at Minute Maid Park for the first time since Game 5 of the 2017 World Series, Kershaw dazzled throughout his longest outing since Aug. 25, 2018.
His bid for a perfect game ended on Kyle Tucker’s one-out double in the bottom of the fourth inning. He was stranded as Kershaw retired the next six batters faced, a string that was snapped by Martín Maldonado’s single with one out in the sixth.
Nothing came of that but Kershaw did surrender a solo home run to Alex Bregman in the seventh inning. It was the lone run Kershaw allowed as he collected six strikeouts and needed just 81 pitches to get through 7.2 innings.
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