The Los Angeles Dodgers broke a franchise record by combining for 26 strikeouts in Friday’s extra-innings win against the Milwaukee Brewers. Clayton Kershaw was responsible for 14 of the strikeouts, which was a season high.
Kershaw became the third-fastest pitcher (in terms of innings) to record 2,000 career strikeouts. For all of Kershaw’s dominance, he was largely matched by Jimmy Nelson. The Brewers right-hander tallied 11 strikeouts over eight shutout innings.
Meanwhile, Kershaw surrendered a home run to Domingo Santana in the seventh inning. The homer held for the Brewers until the ninth.
Yasmani Grandal clubbed a game-tying home run off Milwaukee closer Corey Knebel. In addition to tying the game, the homer was a bit of redemption for Grandal, who was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts to that point.
That sent the game into extra innings, which provided Cody Bellinger with an opportunity to break out of his own three-strikeout game. Bellinger lined a go-ahead home run to right field for what wound up as his only hit on the night.
The home run was Bellinger’s 12th, which leads the Dodgers. On Friday afternoon, he was named the National League Rookie of the Month for May.
With their win, the Dodgers moved back into first place in the NL West entering play Saturday.
