Former MVP winners Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani put their fingerprints on the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-2 win at American Family Field on Monday night.
Kershaw pitched 5.2 innings in his longest start of the season and was charged for one run, which scored when Joe Kelly gave up a two-run homer upon entering the game in the sixth inning.
Kershaw had better efficiency than in his first three starts of the year and finished with six strikeouts as he navigated through multiple instances of traffic. The win was Kershaw’s first of the season.
He was provided with early run support thanks to Betts’ two-run homer in the third inning.
Mookie, BANG!
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/aVo3VOyqnc— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 13, 2024
Clayton Kershaw's slider is sliding
(🎥: @PitchingNinja) pic.twitter.com/0fLGj3ukHc— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 13, 2024
Shohei Ohtani has a ton of power to go the other way like this
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/m6gfVjmNQ1— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 13, 2024
Michael Kopech easy gas
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/xm5rFEmhD1— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 13, 2024
Ohtani then doubled the Dodgers’ lead with a two-run homer of his own in the fifth inning. Ohtani also stole a base to give him 33 on the season as he inches closer to joining the 40-40 club.
Monday was the third game this season that Betts and Ohtani both hit a home run in the same game. They previously did so on April 12 and May 17.
Betts added an RBI single to finish 2-for-4 in his return from the 10-day injured list.
Aside from Kelly, the Dodgers bullpen finished off the game without issue. That included another impressive appearance by Michael Kopech in which he touched 101 mph with his velocity for a strikeout.
MLB standings: Dodgers tie for best record
Despite their recent struggles and prolonged stretch of inconsistency amid a rash of injuries, the Dodgers became the first team in the National League to reach 70 wins. They are a half-game up on the Philadelphia Phillies and 2.5 games ahead of the Brewers.
The Dodgers also are tied with the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians for the best record in baseball entering play Tuesday.
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