Chase Utley’s two-run home run in the top of the first inning set the tone offensively, Clayton Kershaw striking out the side in the bottom half of the inning served as a preview of what was to come at Surprise Stadium, and the Los Angeles Dodgers cruised to a 10-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.
After a Chris Taylor one-out double in the second inning, Charlie Culberson’s RBI single extended the Dodgers’ lead. Kershaw’s string of strikeouts was snapped at four when Mike Napoli flied out in the bottom of the second. Nomar Mazara singled but was stranded by Ryan Rua, who went down swinging.
Yasiel Puig’s two-out, two-run single in the third gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Puig made a wide turn at first base, which drew an errant throw from Rougned Odor, and Puig advanced to second base. The error was Odor’s second of the inning.
Dillon Gee’s rough afternoon continued as he then gave up an RBI double to Andrew Toles. Kershaw worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third inning to keep the Rangers off the board.
Logan Forsythe’s RBI single knocked Gee out of the game with one out in the fourth. Rangers reliever Dario Alvarez walked Joc Pederson before getting out of the inning. Napoli’s single in the bottom of the fourth was good for the Rangers’ second hit of the game. Kershaw then struck out Mazara to end the inning.
The left-handed ace picked up two more strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth inning to give him eight in the game to that point. Kershaw lobbied to remain in the game after throwing 88 pitches through 5.2 innings, and acting Dodgers manager Bob Geren obliged.
He was rewarded by Kershaw fanning the side to give him 11 strikeouts through six shutout innings. Rob Segedin’s booming solo home run to center field in the eighth added to the Dodgers’ commanding lead.
Cody Bellinger followed with a walk, which was the first of three in the inning. Omar Estevez later delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded. Joe Broussard replaced Brandon Morrow with one out and surrendered a two-run homer prior to finishing out the Dodgers’ win.
