The talent discrepancy between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants was readily apparent with their respective Opening Day rosters, but that went out the window as longtime rivals played a patented tight game for most of the night.
Fittingly, reigning National League MVP Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts were at the center of the Dodgers breaking a tie in the seventh inning en route to an 8-1 win. It started with Betts’ one-out single, which was his first hit with the team.
Bellinger then slapped the ball down the third-base line, which caromed off the wall in foul territory. Betts’ alertly made his way to third base and Bellinger wound up with a double.
Betts’ speed and awareness again paid off when he scored on Justin Turner’s grounder to second base despite the Giants’ infield being drawn in. Bellinger was caught in a rundown when Corey Seager hit back to the mound, but he stayed alive long enough to allow both runners to move into scoring position.
That was key as Kiké Hernandez’s third hit of the game was a two-run single that gave the Dodgers some breathing room at 4-1. Hernandez added to his big night with a two-run homer in the eighth inning that further broke the game open. He finished with a game-high five RBI.
Pressed into starting duty because the Dodgers placed Clayton Kershaw on the 10-day injured list four hours before first pitch, Dustin May allowed one run and collected four strikeouts as he pitched into the fifth inning.
May was the victim of bad luck as the Giants benefitted from plenty of well-placed balls and soft contact, resulting in seven hits. May became the became the first rookie Dodgers pitcher to start on Opening Day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
Veteran Johnny Cueto was similarly effective as he scattered five hits and also only allowed one run in four innings.
Caleb Ferguson, Pedro Baez, Adam Kolarek and Brusdar Graterol backed May by throwing a combined 4.2 scoreless innings to wrap up the win.
The Dodgers now have 11 wins on Opening Day since 2008, which is most in the Majors over that span. The Seattle Mariners can tie the mark Friday.
Next for Dodgers
Ross Stripling is scheduled to start Friday night, while the Giants have yet to name their probable. With only 60 games to play this season and 40 of those coming against the National League West, the Dodgers are in strong position to make an early statement in the division.
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