The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics, 5-1, to take another series and extend their winning streak to five games.
Clayton Kershaw rebounded from a subpar performance on Opening Day to dazzle over seven innings of work. Kershaw managed just two strikeouts and five swings and misses against the Colorado Rockies, which were totals he exceeded in the first inning on Tuesday.
Kershaw went on to hold the A’s to just one run on four hits, collecting eight strikeouts and inducing 21 whiffs. Oakland nearly had a second run off Kershaw, but Stephen Piscotty’s solo shot in the fourth inning was ruled foul.
That wasn’t before some confusion as Piscotty initially rounded the bases. The umpiring crew then gathered to discuss it, ruled the drive foul and it was upheld after replay review.
That effort helped uphold a lead the Dodgers built in the second and third innings. After Edwin Rios and Gavin Lux both reached to start the second inning, Austin Barnes’ RBI double tied the game.
Justin Turner then led off the third with a base hit of his own, setting the table for Max Muncy’s go-ahead two-run home run. The homer was Muncy’s first of the season and presumably carried added significance coming against the A’s team that released him in March 2017.
Muncy’s home run came one game after he had three hits in the Dodgers’ win. “I can’t lie, it’s very satisfying to get several hits against your former team,” he said prior to Tuesday’s game.
“That felt really good, but we’ve still got two more games. We’ve got to focus on what we’ve got going on tonight.”
Edwin Rios also connected for his first homer of the year, lining a solo shot to right-center field. The Dodgers then went quiet until Mookie Betts connected for a home run — also his first — in the ninth inning.
The Dodgers finished with 11 hits, marking a fifth game in which they reached double-digits.
Dodgers undecided with Bellinger
Cody Bellinger didn’t play Tuesday due to soreness in his left calf that was spiked the night prior. He underwent testing, which came back negative, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the club isn’t yet certain if Bellinger will avoid a stint on the 10-day injured list.
He was ruled out for the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.
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