New York Yankees 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 8
LOS ANGELES — In a distinctive manner, Clayton Kershaw achieved his inaugural victory against the Yankees by recording nine strikeouts during an impressive seven innings of pitching, allowing only four hits. Adding to the triumph, Mookie Betts showcased his prowess by smashing two additional home runs, contributing significantly to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ commanding 8-4 win over New York on Friday night.
Betts hit a home run as the first batter and then followed it up with an RBI single. Both of these things helped Los Angeles beat Luis Severino (0-1) in the first inning by scoring six runs and getting eight hits. Betts kept up his great play by going 4 for 4 with three RBI and hitting two home runs for the Dodgers, who are currently in first place in the National League. With this great start, the Dodgers set a great tone for this highly-anticipated series between teams from different leagues.
Even though he had been 0-1 in his four previous starts against the Yankees over the course of his 16-year career, Kershaw (7-4) surprised everyone this time. The respected three-time Cy Young Award winner got a big lead early and kept his cool even after Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson, who had been out for a long time with injuries, hit home runs right away. Kershaw showed his strength by not giving up when things got hard.
In a remarkable turn of events, Kershaw showcased his mastery on the mound, retiring his last seven batters and receiving a well-deserved standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd at Dodger Stadium as he sealed his final out. With this triumph, he has now achieved victories against every team in the major leagues, except for Baltimore. Interestingly, Kershaw has never faced the Orioles before, but fate has it that the Dodgers will be heading to Camden Yards next month, presenting an opportunity for him to add the Orioles to the list of conquered opponents.
Donaldson hit two home runs for the Yankees in his much-anticipated return to the field after being out since April 5. This made a big statement. But despite the efforts of Donaldson and Stanton, who also hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning against Phil Bickford, the Yankees lost for the second time in a row after a four-game winning streak. Both Stanton and Donaldson had been out of action since April because of hamstring injuries. Their power was impressive, but it wasn’t enough to change the result of the game.
A staggering attendance of 52,534 passionate fans flocked to witness the latest encounter between two major-market powerhouses and former rivals from New York, who have previously clashed in a remarkable 11 World Series matchups. The Yankees, in a relatively rare occurrence, embarked on only their fifth regular-season visit to the iconic Chavez Ravine, with their previous appearance dating back to August 2019. The anticipation surrounding this meeting between the teams was palpable, drawing an immense crowd eager to witness the spectacle.
Max Muncy showed off his scoring skills by hitting a two-run homer in the first inning. This made the Dodgers’ lead even stronger. Martinez’s great form was on display when he hit a home run and a single, bringing his amazing hitting streak to 16 games. Betts hit his second home run in the sixth inning, showing that he was still the best player on the field. As the game got close to being over, Betts’ single in the eighth inning gave Freddie Freeman one last chance to add to his amazing 20-game hit run. Even though Freeman was the NL Player of the Month for May because of his great play, the shortstop caught his 99 mph line drive, giving him an unusual 0-for-5 game.
Severino found himself in a challenging situation, requiring a hefty 34 pitches to escape the first inning. Throughout this struggle, he conceded eight batted balls that surpassed an impressive 94 mph. Notably, Severino’s fastball clocked in at an average of only 95 mph, a notable decrease from his typical season average.
Betts made his presence known right away with a spectacular home run into the dugout on Severino’s second pitch. This was a great way to show how good he was. This was his second home run to start the game in a row, which shows how important he is at the beginning of the game. The strong hit was also Betts’ 41st career leadoff home run, his 21st since joining the Dodgers, and his fifth of the season, after his game-opening shot against Washington earlier in the week. Betts keeps showing how good he is and how he can set the tone for the Dodgers’ attack.
Continuing his impressive power surge, Martinez added another home run to his tally in the third inning, marking his eighth long ball in just 12 games. With this remarkable feat, Martinez further solidified his position as the National League’s leader in slugging percentage, showcasing his ability to deliver impactful hits and contribute significantly to his team’s offensive prowess.
When Donaldson wasn’t playing, the Yankees’ third basemen did poorly, with a hitting average of .202. But as soon as Donaldson got back into the game, he made a big difference by hitting a huge 446-foot home run in the second inning. Stanton didn’t want to be beaten, so in the fourth inning, he hit a solo shot with two outs that went an impressive 417 feet. Stanton hit his 10th home run in his career in just 24 games at the same ballpark where he grew up as a Dodgers fan in his hometown of Los Angeles. Both Donaldson and Stanton showed off their power, which showed how they can bring energy to the Yankees’ lineup and gave a glimpse of their individual skills.
UP NEXT
Gerrit Cole (6-0, 2.93 ERA) takes the field in his home state of Southern California against the Dodgers’ Michael Grove (0-1, 8.44 ERA).
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