The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have the warmest welcome in their return to Southern California as windy conditions blew through Dodger Stadium on Sunday night, but Clayton Kershaw turned in a stellar outing and the offense was backed by home runs in a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Angels.
Kershaw threw 74 pitches over six innings, both of which were his highest totals of the spring. The left-hander retired the first 11 batters faced before the Angels had a baserunner.
Kershaw’s perfect game was broken up by Shohei Ohtani’s two-out single in the fourth inning — one of only three hits he allowed over six shutout innings.
Mike Trout and Ohtani went a combined 1-for-6 with four strikeouts against Kershaw.
Back-to-back! pic.twitter.com/I00G5eoGjE
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 27, 2023
Talk to 'em, Miggy! pic.twitter.com/SmqtVRrGZI
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 27, 2023
Seven strikeouts? Kersh was cruising. pic.twitter.com/7rNjm7Dhx2
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 27, 2023
A sneak preview from @james_outman. pic.twitter.com/eCg4jZtkAq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 27, 2023
“The slider was definitely better. I threw some bad ones too, but overall, the consistency was better with it,” Kershaw said after the win. “Got some swings and misses on it finally. Fastball command was better too. So overall, definitely a good step forward for me. It’s time to go.”
Max Muncy and Chris Taylor provided Kershaw with an early lead by combining for back-to-back solo home runs in the second inning.
That was all the Dodgers had on the board until James Outman’s pinch-hit solo homer. The home run was Outman’s third of the spring and he’s now just days away from being on an Opening Day roster for the first time in his young career.
Dodgers head South
The exhibition Freeway Series now shifts to Angel Stadium for two consecutive nights. Noah Syndergaard starts for the Dodgers on Tuesday, followed by Ryan Pepiot in the series finale.
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