"Overall it was a good game for the whole team” - Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw opens up after solid outing in 5-2 victory against Brewers
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-2 victory at American Family Field on Monday. They are coming off a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in their previous three-game series.
Left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw had a solid outing while recording his first win of the 2024 season. He pitched for 5.2 innings giving up three hits and one earned while striking out six batters.
Discussing the game, Kershaw said (via Sportsnet LA):
“It was a good game for us tonight all the way around. Personally, it was okay. I think decent command all the way through. A couple of big spots, able to get out of there but overall it was a good game for the whole team.”
The Dodgers' offense recorded six hits in 32 at-bats with five RBIs, three walks and seven strikeouts. The game also saw Mookie Betts return after almost two months of being sidelined due to injury.
Talking about Betts, Kershaw said:
“Obviously having Mookie back is pretty awesome as well. Just stuff like that ball off the wall and right in the sixth inning there to keep it a single just stuff that not a lot of people can make look that easy. So it’s really nice having him back. Not to mention the homer and stuff. And so the lineup is starting to look like it should. It’s pretty cool.”
Betts played right field and batted second with Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani in the leadoff spot. Before getting injured in June, Betts played shortstop while being the leadoff hitter.
Clayton Kershaw expresses confidence about team’s improving performance as key players return
The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently 70-49 with a .588 winning percentage while leading the NL West standings. Although the team has faced struggles in some games due to injuries, Kershaw is confident in his team’s future as injured players return (via ABC News):
“The biggest thing for us is we're getting some guys back. We're getting our lineup the way we want it to. We're getting some guys starter-wise, reliever-wise, everything. We're having our team look like what we want our team to look like. I think you'll see us kind of start to take off here pretty soon,” Kershaw said.
The Dodgers will face the Brewers in the second game of their series on Tuesday.