The Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home runs and received a bounce-back effort from Clayton Kershaw in a 5-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics. The Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games and have started with season by taking both of their first two series.
Coming off a start in which he managed just two strikeouts and five swings and misses, Kershaw exceeded both of those totals in the first inning. Though, it wasn’t all positive as the A’s connected on back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 lead.
Kershaw then found the feel for his slider and produced a stretch where he retired 17 of 18 batters to get through six innings with just the one run allowed. Stephen Piscotty appeared to have a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, but it was ruled to have hooked foul.
Piscotty initially rounded the bases before the umpires gathered to discuss the home run — seemingly urged on by Kershaw, Austin Barnes and others questioning the ruling. Their conversation ended with the play ruled a foul ball, which was upheld after review.
That prevented the Dodgers’ lead from being cut in half, a noteworthy factor considering their offense largely went quiet after early success.
After Edwin Rios singled and Gavin Lux walked to start the second inning, Austin Barnes delivered a game-tying RBI double. Chris Bassitt ran into more trouble in the third as he gave up a two-run home run to Max Muncy and solo shot to Edwin Rios.
Muncy’s homer not only came against his former team, but was his first of the season.
The Dodgers remained stuck on four runs until Mookie Betts hit a 403-foot laser in the ninth inning for his first home run of the season.
Dodgers waiting on Bellinger
One night after being hit by a 96 mph pitch in his left elbow, Chris Taylor was available to pinch-run and play defense. However, Cody Bellinger was due to undergo testing on his left calf that was spiked and still sore on Tuesday.
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