With Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the first time since July 3, the Los Angeles Dodgers provided him with an early lead and never relinquished it in a 5-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Justin Turner led all players with three RBI.
Arizona did manage to take a lead in the first inning, though Kershaw limited it to just one run. That paid off as Mookie Betts sparked the Dodgers offense with a leadoff double in the bottom of the first.
After a Trea Turner walk put two on with one out, Corey Seager’s RBI base hit tied the game. That was followed by Justin Turner pulling a two-run double down the left-field line to give the Dodgers a decided lead.
Austin Barnes’ RBI double in the sixth inning gave the Dodgers bullpen some breathing room. It was also some vindication for Gavin Lux, who earlier in the night was called out at home plate after the Diamondbacks challenged a safe call on what appeared to be a Betts sacrifice fly.
Mr. Clutch 🤝 pic.twitter.com/ntNDXGeLxE
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 14, 2021
You love to see it.
Standing ovation for No.22. 👏 pic.twitter.com/yqBPMEqQfa— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 14, 2021
Stay hot, @redturn2! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QcKiYxpglr
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 14, 2021
Turner then provided more insurance in the seventh inning with a solo home run, his second in as many games and fourth in the past week. It also gave Turner 25 homers on the season, which is two away from tying a career high that he originally set in 2016 and tied in 2019.
Kershaw wound up going 4.1 innings on just 50 pitches, and finished with five strikeouts.
Turner finding swing
After hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals, Turner noted that he had been refining his swing and also fighting to emerge from a slump.
“I guess a little of both,” he said. “Just working through some stuff, trying to get in a good position and have a good feeling in the box.”
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