Dodgers Highlights: Offense Explodes, Kershaw Dominates as LA Wins Series Opener Over Yankees
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The Los Angeles Dodgers took the series opener over the New York Yankees on Friday night, 8-4, behind a dominant performance by the LA offense and the LA ace. Clayton Kershaw got the win and earned it, while Yankees starter Luis Severino got the loss — and he definitely earned it, too.
Let’s get into the highlights of an action-packed game.
Kershaw retired the Yankees on just five pitches in the first inning, making way for the Dodgers offense to get an early start. They took full advantage.
Mookie Betts led off the game with a solo home run, in a preview of what was about to be a long night for Severino and a great night for Betts.
A warm LA welcome from Mookie. pic.twitter.com/XD7uhbEtYn
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2023
Three batters later, after an infield single by Will Smith, Max Muncy got his June off to a strong start with with a two-run home run of his own. Dodgers 3, Yankees 0 just like that.
Let 'em know, Max. pic.twitter.com/gzAg9gzwtn
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2023
That’s a great sign for Max Muncy. His first at-bat of June is a two-run home run and the Dodgers lead the Yankees 3-0 four batters into the game.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 3, 2023
A 3-0 first inning lead would have been nice, but the Dodgers offense had other plans. J.D. Martinez, Jason Heyward and Miguel Vargas hit back-to-back-to-back singles, bringing up the struggling James Outman with the bases loaded. Outman got his June off to a great start, hitting an RBI single to center field.
James Outman won the NL Rookie of the Month Award in April.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 3, 2023
James Outman struggled in May.
In his first at-bat of June, James Outman just hit an RBI single to center field. That’s exactly what he needed to see to work his way out of the slump.
Dodgers: 4, Yankees: 0
After a Miguel Rojas sacrifice fly, the Dodgers were back at the top of the order, and Betts got his second hit of the inning, an RBI single to give the Dodgers a 6-0 lead. That’s where the damage finally ended.
In the top of the second inning, Josh Donaldson — in his first at-bat since April 5 — crushed a home run to deep left-center field to make it 6-1.
Then, in the bottom of the third, Martinez made sure to get that one back as he led off the inning with a home run to straightaway center field.
Just Dingers! pic.twitter.com/XIRau6PGd4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2023
J.D. Martinez was red-hot in May. He’s now 2-for-2 in June with a home run and a single. The Dodgers offense is on fire right now. They lead 7-1.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 3, 2023
The home run show continued in the top of the fourth, as Giancarlo Stanton, also fresh off the injured list, crushed a home run to deep left field.
A few innings later, in the bottom of the sixth, Betts decided that his hot night wasn’t done. He crushed a home run to left field — his second of the night — giving the Dodgers an 8-2 lead.
Start spreading the news, Mookie's hit another homer. pic.twitter.com/Iht4A12TMg
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2023
Mookie Betts now has 15 home runs and a .917 OPS this season.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 3, 2023
He's played a good right field, second base and shortstop.
The Dodgers leadoff hitter took a hot May into June and is starting to look like a real MVP candidate in the National League.
MOOKIE BETTS IS A DODGER UNTIL 2032!!!
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) June 3, 2023
Kershaw came out for the seventh inning, and looked as dominant as he did in the first. After a 1-2-3 inning, he left the game to a standing ovation, a handshake from Dave Roberts and a lot of high-fives in the dugout. He ended up going seven innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out a tied-for-season-high nine batters.
Okay, now I feel confident calling this Clayton Kershaw's final line:
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 3, 2023
7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 13 Whiffs. He threw 96 pitches.
The Dodgers needed a good start from Kershaw to open the series against the Yankees and that's exactly what he did. What a strong performance. https://t.co/21VGXOxOrn
Clayton Kershaw doing GOAT stuff. He's so him.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) June 3, 2023
King Kersh. pic.twitter.com/atwKWRR0V3
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2023
Yency Almonte pitched a scoreless eighth making way for a hitting streak watch. The only “bad thing” that came out of this game was Freddie Freeman’s 20-game hitting streak coming to an end — but it definitely wasn’t for a lack of good pieces of hitting.
The expected batting average of Freddie Freeman's five at-bats today:
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 3, 2023
.630
.670
.430
.020
.640
The hitting streak may have come to an end for the Dodgers slugger, but it definitely wasn't for a lack of some good hitting.
Betts ended up being the offensive player of the game, going an incredible 4-for-4 with two home runs.
In the top of the ninth inning, Phil Bickford continued to struggle, serving up a two-run home run to Donaldson, his second of the night. Imagine if he didn’t get activated before this series.
But, the Dodgers ended up shutting the door, winning 8-4.
Up Next
The Dodgers and Yankees play the second game of the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch at 4:15 p.m. PT on FOX. Michael Grove will be coming off the injured list to take the mound for the Dodgers, going against the ace of the Yankees, Gerrit Cole.
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