The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants renewed their rivalry Thursday night at Dodger Stadium in the Major League Baseball Opening Day doubleheader cup. The game’s first pitch was delivered by Dustin May, not Clayton Kershaw, who was placed on the disabled list earlier in the day with a stiff back. However, the Dodgers found a way to prevail with an 8-1 final behind some timely punches and strong pitches.
Here are three conclusions from the Los Angeles victory.
Betts makes a statement; Hernández stars
Mookie Betts made its debut with the Dodgers on Thursday night. Before officially taking her first cut, she made headlines by kneeling down during the national anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
During the game, Betts went 1-for-5 with a single that spurred a rally in the seventh inning. Cody Bellinger followed Betts’ single with a double, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Justin Turner then put Betts in picking a fielder who saw former AL MVP slide past a tag:
It wasn’t the most hectic game for Betts, none of this game will make its standout reel of the season finale, but it still contributed to a victory.
The Dodgers’ offense, by the way, was marked by Enrique Hernández. He made four hits, including a two-run homer late, and drove five runs.
May throws well at the start
As noted in the introduction, the Dodgers were forced to start in May, a 22-year-old player who made his fifteenth major league appearance. He may not have pitched as the first Kershaw, but he held his ground.
May pitched 4 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits, no walks and one run. He struck out four batters and threw 46 of his 60 pitches for strikes.
Although that hitting total is jarring, most of May’s contact was weak in nature. Her average overnight speed was less than 79 miles per hour. Last season, Julio Urias led the majors in muzzle velocity with an average of 84 mph.
Dodger bullpen holding steady
As noted earlier, May was out before the end of the fifth inning. That didn’t matter. Manager Dave Roberts mixed and matched his bullpen, and Los Angeles relievers surrendered.
Caleb Ferguson, Pedro Báez, Adam Kolarek and Brusdar Graterol allowed only one hit, did not run and did not walk more than four frames. They struck out four batters and Baez and Kolarek pitched in multiple innings.
As a result, the Dodgers are now 1-0.
