The Los Angeles Dodgers were in command for much of Game 1 of the National League Division Series, thanks in large part to Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner, who then provided insurance runs to thwart a rally by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Clayton Kershaw struck out seven over 6.1 innings and earned his first career playoff win at Dodger Stadium. However, he also tied an MLB record by surrendering four home runs in a postseason game.
Kershaw became the first Dodgers pitcher to ever allow that many in the playoffs. “No excuses, I gave up too many home runs tonight,” he said after a 9-4 win.
Fortunately for Kershaw, timely double plays helped limit each of the home runs to solo shots, and he was provided with an early lead that the Dodgers never lost.
Taijuan Walker struggled mightily in his playoff debut, failing to retire any of the first five batters faced.
The Dodgers held a 4-0 lead through the first inning, behind Turner’s three-run homer and Puig’s RBI double. Walker’s abysmal night came to a close at 48 pitches and one inning.
Following Corey Seager’s RBI base hit off Zack Godley in the fourth, Turner’s flare single drove in another run. Two batters later, Puig’s RBI groundout extended the Dodgers’ lead to 7-0.
Puig’s best highlight, however, came on his leadoff triple and subsequent tongue wag in the seventh inning, via the SportsCenter Twitter account:
Dodgers take a 1-0 series lead behind 5 RBI from Justin Turner!
Yasiel Puig had 2 RBI of his own. Oh, and this… pic.twitter.com/CqB1SKHB55
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 7, 2017
Turner collected a fifth RBI on a base hit in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. He tied Davey Lopes (1978 World Series) and Pedro Guerrero (1981 World Series) for the franchise postseason record of most RBI in a single game.
