Kershaw and Dodgers dominate the Rays to win Game 1 of the World Series

Clayton Kershaw threw a postseason gem and Mookie Betts backed him up with a brilliant offensive effort when the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-3, in Game 1 of the 116th World Series.

Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer whose lackluster postseason record puts him under the microscope at this time of year, was rock solid when the Dodgers took the lead in the best game in the league. Big leagues. seven exhibition championships, to be played this pandemic-interrupted year at the neutral site of Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The 32-year-old left-hander gave up two hits, including a home run, with eight strikeouts and one walk in six innings, throwing 53 of his 78 pitches for strikes.

Betts fueled the Dodgers’ bid for their first World Series title since 1988 with a solo home run and a World Series record equal to two stolen bases in one inning.

Cody Bellinger, whose solo home run was crucial to the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over Atlanta in the National League Championship Series, again topped with a two-run home run off Rays starter Tyler Glasnow.

“It’s amazing, it’s great to start this series with a win,” Kershaw said.

“That is the most important thing for us. It’s always important to get that first game in a series, and just for me personally, it’s amazing to pitch well and get a World Series win. I am grateful to have another chance. “

Kershaw gave up an opening single to Yandi Diaz to open the game and it took 20 pitches to get out of the first inning.

That included a walk to Randy Arozarena that moved Diaz to second, but Kershaw struck out Hunter Renfroe and induced a Manuel Margo grounder to end the danger, pitching a run of 13 straight batters retired.

The sensational Arozarena, who entered the game with a rookie record of seven home runs this postseason, was 0-of-3 at the plate, with one walk.

Bellinger breaks through

Glasnow was equally impressive, delivering just one hit in three innings.

But Bellinger broke through with one out in the fourth, seizing a 98 mph first pitch fastball from Glasnow and sending it 378 feet over the right-center wall for a home run also scored by Max Muncy, who walked to open the inning. and reached second on a wild pitch.

With a 2-0 lead to start the fifth, Kershaw retired Joey Wendle and Willy Adames before Kevin Kiermaier hit a home run that cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the fifth, when Betts made Glasnow call for a starting walk, stealing two bases and scoring when Muncy reached first base on a fielder’s choice and Betts beat the throw to home plate.

After Will Smith singled to boost a run, Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled Glasnow for Ryan Yarbrough, who delivered scoring singles to Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez that brought the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1 at through five.

Kershaw retired three straight games in the top of the sixth, and Betts received Rays relief pitcher Josh Fleming with an opening home run in the bottom of the frame.

The Dodgers were piled high with run-scoring doubles from Justin Turner and Muncy.

With Dylan Floro on the mound in the seventh, the Rays threatened a Manuel Margot single and a Joey Wendle double that Bellinger threw into the center field wall.

Victor Gonzalez replaced Floro on the mound with one out and runners on second and third, and the Rays pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau quickly hit a single that scored a run to right field.

Kiermaier also singled in a run, but the Rays’ rally stalled when Mike Zunino hit a double play.

Pedro Baez pitched a scoreless eighth for the Dodgers and reliever Joe Kelly closed it out in the ninth, aided by Bellinger’s catch off the wall on a Rays fly ball, Austin Meadows.