The Los Angeles Dodgers finished with a winning road trip and series victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, led by Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani and Miguel Rojas in a 2-1 game.
Kershaw was efficient throughout the afternoon and turned in his best of five starts since returning from left shoulder surgery. He allowed just one hit and needed only 31 pitches to complete three innings. Kershaw then faced one over the minimum and was through five innings on 57 pitches.
Kershaw’s six innings pitched marked the longest of his five outings this year. That previously was 5.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last week. Sunday’s game also was the first time Kershaw completed six innings since June 27, 2023.
While Kershaw was in the midst of authoring a scoreless start, the Dodgers squandered early opportunities and didn’t get on the board until Ohtani led off the fifth inning with his 39th home run of the season.
Shohei Ohtani 40-40 tracker:
39 home runs
37 stolen bases pic.twitter.com/bA2vAcaimv— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 18, 2024
Clayton Kershaw is through 5 scoreless innings. He snapped off a patented curveball earlier today 😍
(🎥: @PitchingNinja) pic.twitter.com/CsOXloi2nT— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 18, 2024
Clayton Kershaw got a big double play to escape some trouble in the sixth inning.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/VVZYgY4u22— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 18, 2024
Michael Kopech for the save
(🎥: @SportsNetLA) pic.twitter.com/h5RfAj113j— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 18, 2024
Ohtani is on the verge of making Dodgers franchise history with their first 40-40 season. He’s one home run away and three stolen bases from becoming just the sixth player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club.
Later in the fifth inning, Rojas delivered a two-out RBI single with the bases loaded that proved to be the difference for the Dodgers. Rojas and Gavin Lux finished for the game-high with three hits each.
Dodgers closer Michael Kopech?
After six scoreless innings from Kershaw, Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson and Michael Kopech combined to finish out the win. Hudson surrendered a solo home run in the eighth inning before Kopech entered for his second save with the Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts has stopped short of formally naming Kopech the new Dodgers closer, but he certainly appears to be taking hold of the role.
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