LOS ANGELES (AP) a' Clayton Kershaw launched his first career home run to break a tie in the eighth inning, then finished off a four-hitter Monday that led the Los Angeles Dodgers within the San Francisco Bay Area Giants 4-0 on opening day. Kershaw became the very first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run in a opener since Bob Lemon for Cleveland in 1953, STATS said. Kershaw struck out eight, walked nothing and retired World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval on a grounder to get rid of it. The former Cy Young winner started the day as a lifetime career.146 batter with only 1 extra-base hit in 261 at-bats. But the first pitch was sent by him from George Kontos (0-1) within the center-field wall, causing a standing ovation and continuous roar from the sellout crowd of 53,000. After high-fiving his teammates, his cap was tipped by Kershaw from the dugout. Kershaw became the first pitcher in the majors to homer on opening day since Joe Magrane of St. Louis in 1988, and the initial Dodgers pitcher to accomplish it since Don Drysdale in 1965. "I never knew what that felt like," Kershaw said. Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, carrying his vintage No. 32 jersey, threw out the ceremonial first ball. In 1964, Koufax pitched the very first opening-day shutout at Dodger Stadium. Then, yet another Dodgers lefty with a great curveball focused. His sixth career shutout was pitched by kershaw, tossing 94 pitches in his third straight starting day start. He's led the majors in ERA each one of the last two conditions, and there is speculation he'll soon be rewarded with a agreement worth about $200 million. "Opening time was anything I could expect for," he said. "Hopefully we got 161 more of those coming up." Matt Cain made his first career starting morning start for the Giants. He permitted four hits in six scoreless innings, struck out nine and went one. The right-hander put 93 pitches, including 32 in the very first inning alone. While Kershaw (1-0) was sleeping after his home run, the Dodgers broke it open contrary to the defending champions. Carl Crawford followed with a double and later obtained on a pitch by Santiago Casilla for a 2-0 lead. The Dodgers got their last two runs on RBI groundouts by Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis. Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson was the pile before the game when director Don Mattingly came out and signaled for a reliever. In got the first ball to be thrown by Koufax to former Dodgers ace Orel Hershiser. A couple of minutes later, the audience seemed toward Vin Scully's booth, where he began his 64th year, and the respected broadcaster pronounced: "It is time for Dodger baseball." NOTES: Ethier made his operation history sixth straight opening morning come from right field for the Dodgers. ... Kershaw may be the first Dodgers pitcher to start the growing season opener four years in a line since Derek Lowe (2005-07). ... Only four people on the Giants' 25-man lineup weren't on the team last season. ... On opening day for the next time in team history The Dodgers confronted the defending World Series winners. In 2011, they played the Giants, and in 1922, when the team was called the Brooklyn Robins, they confronted the New York Giants.
More Info: [Soccer Live] TSG Hoffenheim - Fortuna Düsseldorf
No comments:
Post a Comment