The new-look Los Angeles Dodgers lineup with Shohei Ohtani staying in the leadoff spot and Mookie Betts batting second packed plenty of punch in a 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers starting the road trip on a positive note extended their winning streak to four games and put them a half-game ahead of the idle Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in the National League.
Betts went 2-for-4 with the two-run homer and three RBI in his first game since June 16. He missed the past eight weeks while recovering from a left hand fracture and returned without going on a rehab assignment.
Betts struck out and lost his footing in the first inning, and followed that with a resounding response in the third to give the Dodgers a lead.
Ohtani then extended it by going to the opposite field for a two-run blast that traveled 428 feet. Of Ohtani’s 36 home runs this season, which is most in the NL, 28 have gone at least 400 feet.
Monday was the third time this season Betts and Ohtani both hit a home run in the same game. They previously combined to accomplish the feat on April 12 and May 17.
Betts provided more offense with a two-out RBI single off former teammate Bryan Hudson in the seventh inning, which came after Ohtani stole his 33rd base of the season.
The two superstars were all the Dodgers managed on offense, but a strong start from Clayton Kershaw helped set the tone for the pitching staff.
Kershaw needed just seven pitches to get through the first inning. He ran into trouble in the second inning, giving up a leadoff double and issuing a one-out walk. Kershaw then ended a nine-pitch at-bat by getting Rhys Hoskins swinging for the start of a strike ’em out, throw ’em out, an inning-ending double play.
Kershaw also had efficient third and fourth innings, and was only at 46 pitches to that point. Kershaw stranded a single and walk in the fifth, and was removed with two outs in the sixth inning. Joe Kelly gave up a two-run homer as he struggled to get the final out, and one of the runs was charged to Kershaw.
The outing was Kershaw’s longest of the season and the 83 pitches were also the most he’s thrown this year. Kershaw is at 2,961 career strikeouts.
The win was Kershaw’s first this season.
Amed Rosario DFA for Mookie Betts
In a somewhat surprising decision, Amed Rosario was designated for assignment in order to make room for Betts’ return to the Dodgers roster.
Rosario appeared in just five games after being acquired at the trade deadline and figures to get claimed off waivers.
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