Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Featured > Dodgers Opening Day Highlights: Kiké Hernandez Home Run, Mookie Betts Shines
FeaturedVideo

Dodgers Opening Day Highlights: Kiké Hernandez Home Run, Mookie Betts Shines

Daniel Starkand
July 24, 2020
4 Min Read
Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, 2020 Opening Day
Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports
SHARE


The Los Angeles Dodgers made their long-anticipated 2020 debut on Thursday night, defeating the San Francisco Giants, 8-1, on Opening Day to start off the shortened year on a high note.

There has been a ton of talk over the last few months about how potent the Dodgers’ lineup is after the addition of Mookie Betts, but for much of the night they looked rather pedestrian against the Giants’ pitching staff.

Johnny Cueto turned back the clock a bit by starting the game with three shutout innings. The Dodgers finally broke through in the fourth, however, as Corey Seager lined an opposite-field double into the gap and then scored on a single by Kiké Hernandez.

The Dodgers were eventually able to break it open in the late innings against the Giants’ bullpen, and Hernandez was a big reason for that. L.A.’s typical primary utilityman got the opportunity to start at second base, and he made the most of it.

Hernandez was swinging as hot of a bat as anybody in the Dodgers’ exhibition games and he carried that into the regular season, going 4-for-5 with five RBI.

He drove home two with a single in the Dodgers’ five-run seventh inning, and then he capped off his big night with a two-run home run in the eighth, accounting for the team’s first long ball of 2020.

Betts also found a way to make an impact in his first game as a Dodger, reaching base twice in five trips to the plate, with one coming on a single to left to account for his first hit with his new team.

Betts is considered to be one of the most instinctual players in baseball, and he proved why in the seventh inning when he scored the go-ahead run on a ground ball to second base off the bat of Justin Turner.

The Giants had the infield in, but Betts broke for home at the crack of the bat and slid in just ahead of the tag.

May fills in admirably for Kershaw

The big news of the day before the Dodgers took the field was that their expected Opening Day starter, Clayton Kershaw, was scratched from his start and placed on the 10-day injured list due to a back injury.

Dustin May wasn’t even part of the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster that had been announced in the morning, but he was called up and became the first rookie in the organization to start the opener since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

Considering he took the mound on short notice, May looked as good as can be expected, pitching 4.1 innings of one-run ball while giving up seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks. His fastball touched 100 mph, which is impressive for a 22-year-old and makes it easy to see why the organization is so high on him.

The Dodgers are not sure how long Kershaw will be out, so May could get an extended opportunity to fill his spot in the rotation for the time being.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events and more!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Los Angeles DodgersSan Francisco Giants
ByDaniel Starkand
Daniel Starkand is a graduate from Chapman University with a degree in journalism and broadcast journalism. He grew up in Burbank, Calif. and played baseball at Burbank High and his first two years at Chapman. Along with serving as a senior writer, editor and social media manager for DodgerBlue.com, Daniel also writes for LakersNation.com. Contact: daniel@mediumlargela.com
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers workout, 2024 Spring Training
Dodgers NewsFeaturedSpring Training

Dodgers Spring Training: Shohei Ohtani On Track For Cactus League Debut

February 24, 2024
February 24, 2024
General view of Los Angeles Dodgers bats, including Max Muncy's
FeaturedRumors

MLB Rumors: Universal DH Being Leveraged In Exchange For Expanded Postseason

November 8, 2020
November 8, 2020
Pedro-baez-1
Dodgers NewsSpring Training

Dodgers Spring Training: Pedro Baez Scheduled To Throw Bullpen Session

March 19, 2017
March 19, 2017
Kenley-jansen-6
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Kenley Jansen Wins 2016 Trevor Hoffman Award

October 29, 2016
November 7, 2016

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어