Clayton Kershaw kept the damage at a minimum in his return from the 60-day injured list and the Los Angeles Dodgers erased an early deficit to go on for a 5-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Heading into the series opener, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Kershaw would go around four innings or 60 pitches. The left-hander wound up needing 50 pitches to get through 4.1 innings with just one run allowed.
That came in the first inning when the Diamondbacks put Kershaw in some trouble behind a double and walk with one out. He nearly stranded both runners but gave up an RBI bloop single to Josh Rojas.
Kershaw didn’t retire the side in order until the third inning, and he worked around a two-out double in the fourth. Kershaw getting to face one batter in the fifth inning came after he appeared to do some convincing with Roberts in the dugout.
By then the Dodgers had staked him a lead behind a three-run first inning.
Mookie Betts’ leadoff double and Trea Turner’s walk put two on with one out for Corey Seager, who tied the game with an RBI base hit. That was followed by Justin Turner providing L.A. with a decided lead behind a two-run double.
Austin Barnes’ RBI double in the sixth inning provided the Dodgers bullpen with some breathing room. It was also a bit of vindication for Gavin Lux, who earlier in the night had been called out at home plate after the Diamondbacks challenged a safe call on what appeared to be a Betts sacrifice fly.
Turner added more insurance in the seventh inning with a solo home run, his second in as many games and fourth in the past week.
Dodgers chasing Giants
With their win, the Dodgers kept pace with the San Francisco Giants and remained 2.5 games back for first place in the National League West. Meanwhile, the Giants clinched a postseason berth with their victory on Monday night.
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