Led by Clayton Kershaw turning in seven perfect innings and a late power display, the Los Angeles defeated the Minnesota Twins, 7-0, to earn their first sweep of the 2022 season.
Everything was clicking for the Dodgers, with their pitching, offense and defense all in sync for a dominant and memorable win.
Kershaw was making his first start of the season and pitched seven perfect innings while striking out 13 hitters. The southpaw struck out two batters in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings, then continued to dominate and struck out the side in the sixth.
Kershaw had stretched out to five innings and 75 pitches in a simulated game last week, which delayed his 2022 regular season. Nevertheless, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kept the bigger picture in mind and removed Kershaw at 80 pitches with the perfect game in tact.
Clayton Kershaw, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/EciCo9KsQO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 13, 2022
.@redturn2 starts the scoring with a single to right! #Dodgers lead 2-0 in the first. pic.twitter.com/eVbfhZirZa
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 13, 2022
.@ClaytonKersh22 gets his first K of the season on a nasty slider. pic.twitter.com/yXS3vyHtm2
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2022
That Kersh slider. pic.twitter.com/2XPXyBP0wS
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 13, 2022
WOW. pic.twitter.com/laqJ5OTh5U
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 13, 2022
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK. pic.twitter.com/vyAwQFlHEV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 13, 2022
All the way up! pic.twitter.com/Aew3wBKSaN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 13, 2022
Unfortunately, Gary Sanchez singled off Alex Vesia in the eighth inning so the Dodgers were unable to complete the first combined perfect game in MLB history. Max Kepler followed with a walk and finished as the Twins’ final baserunner of the game.
While the Dodgers offense was quiet for the middle portion of the game, they scored in the first two and final two innings to give Kershaw and the bullpen a big lead to work with.
Mookie Betts led off the game with a double and the Dodgers loaded the bases before Justin Turner put them on the board in the first inning with a two-run single. They added another run in the second behind a Trea Turner sacrifice fly to put them up 3-0.
From there, both offense were quiet until Cody Bellinger hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning. That was followed by two more home runs from Gavin Lux and Austin Barnes, who quickly regained the team lead after entering the day with the club’s only homer of the season.
The back-to-back-to-back home runs were the first by the Dodgers since the 2017 season when they did it against Philadelphia Phillies closer Hector Neris.
In the ninth inning, Max Muncy also connected for his first long ball of the season to put the Dodgers up by seven runs.
Mookie Betts led Dodgers in escape room at Mall of America
The Dodgers made their first visit to the Twins’ home ballpark since 2014. Prior to the series opener, a dozen Dodgers players spent Monday’s off day at Mall of America.
Those who made the trip to the largest shopping mall in North America conquered an escape room with plenty of time to spare thanks to Mookie Betts.
“The Escape Game” at Mall of America is an immersive adventure in which teams must crack codes, uncover clues, solve puzzles and complete a mission within a certain amount of time.
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