by Cary Osborne
Clayton Kershaw. Mookie Betts. Shohei Ohtani.
Three of the biggest superstars of this generation played in a Major League game as teammates for the first time and each starred in the Dodgers’ 5–2 win against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
The Dodgers are now the first team in the National League to 70 wins.
“I think the biggest thing for us is we’re getting some guys back. We’re getting our lineup the way we want it to,” Kershaw said. “We’re getting some guys (back) starter-wise, reliever-wise, everything. We’re having our team look like what we want our team to look like. And I think you’ll see us kind of start to take off here pretty soon.”
Betts, fresh off the injured list after missing 45 games with a fractured left hand, hit a two-run home run in his second at-bat of the game, and he drove in Ohtani with a single in the seventh inning.
https://medium.com/media/505cdc2ef9194589868b451d63e7f333/href
Ohtani hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Kershaw had his best start this season, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. The one run crossed the plate when he was out of the game and Joe Kelly surrendered the inherited run.
Betts and Ohtani homered in the same game for the third time this season.
Betts, out since being hit by a pitch in the hand on June 16, homered for the first time since June 6.
With Ohtani’s impact at the leadoff position and a larger need in right field, Betts batted second and played right field for the first time this season. Betts was comfortable at both, particularly in the batter’s box with a 2-for-4 night — both hits with runners in scoring position.
“Obviously it’s a lot more fun writing his name in the lineup,” said manager Dave Roberts.
https://medium.com/media/19c78573a622664b49a4a71c7bdc089f/href
Kershaw’s Best of 2024
Kershaw won his first game of the season and 211th in his career. The victory moved him into Major League Baseball’s top 100 in career wins. He is tied for 97th with former Dodgers Kevin Brown, Bob Welch and Bobo Newsom and seven-time All-Star Billy Pierce.
Kershaw, the 10-time All-Star, got to two strikes on 14 batters in the game. He allowed two hits — both singles — and two walks. He allowed one extra-base hit in the game.
The veteran left-hander faced a two-on, one-out situation in the second inning. He struck out first baseman Rhys Hoskins and catcher William Contreras was thrown out trying to steal third.
Kershaw kept hitters off balance mixing in 16 curveballs, two splitters and two changeups to go with his primaries — the slider and four-seamer. He earned four outs with the curveball and changeup.
Kershaw has allowed a combined two earned runs over his last two starts (10 1/3 innings). This was his first time pitching into the sixth inning this season and his 83 pitches matched his season high over four starts.
Ohtani’s 40/40 Pace
https://medium.com/media/a4c2950c80a5effeda24ac1fa1127451/href
Ohtani reached base twice on Monday with a homer and a walk in four plate appearances.
Ohtani added a stolen base in the game, giving him 33 to go along with his 36 home runs. He is on pace for 49 home runs and 45 stolen bases.
Where They Stand
The Dodgers (70–49) have a four-game lead over Arizona and San Diego in the NL West. The Dodgers play Milwaukee (67–51) at 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday with Gavin Stone going for his 10th win of the year.
Betts’ doesn’t skip a beat in return as he and fellow MVPs Ohtani and Kershaw lead the way was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.