Dodgers win again behind home runs from Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani

MILWAUKEE — Regardless of which punch lands first, Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani still make quite a 1-2.

Betts returned to the lineup on Monday night after missing 45 games with a fractured left hand and needed just one at-bat to acclimate himself to his new spot in the order – batting second behind Shohei Ohtani. Betts hit a two-run home run in his second at-bat then drove in Ohtani with a single in his fourth at-bat. In between, Ohtani hit a two-run home run of his own as the Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-2.

“The lineup is starting to look like it should,” Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “It’s really cool.”

With the Philadelphia Phillies off, their fourth consecutive win gave the Dodgers the best record in the National League and tied them with the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians (both off Monday) for the best record in the majors.

“It’s remarkable,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when the standings were pointed out to him, his mind no doubt racing through all the injuries and challenges the Dodgers have faced to this point.

“You’ve got to give a lot of credit to the guys that have played a full season here,” Kershaw added. “There have been a lot of injuries, a lot of guys in and out. Some of our guys that have maybe had bigger responsibilities than we thought they were going to have have stepped up and played great for us and have had to play a lot, play every day.

“It’s a grind to play 162. It’s a grind to make 30-plus starts. Those guys that have been doing it for us, that have been here day in day out, we owe them a lot. They’ve really helped us out.”

Encouraging as it was to see Betts return from his fractured left hand with a three-RBI game, Kershaw’s outing might have been even more of a welcome sight for the Dodgers.

He retired 11 of the first 13 batters he faced, completed five innings for the first time since returning from shoulder surgery and took a two-hit shutout into the sixth.

With one out, Jackson Chourio lined a ball off the wall in right field. Playing it like a six-time Gold Glover, Betts fielded it off the wall, spun and held him to a single.

“You know what? It just kind of happened,” Betts said of the play. “I didn’t even think about it, it was just from being there. So that’s the intricacies of playing right that I got to learn over 10 years. I didn’t really get a chance to learn it (as a shortstop) in two months. I didn’t have to practice that. That just kind of happens, where maybe every other play at shortstop, I had to practice.”

Kershaw got Garrett Mitchell on a called third strike for the second out of the sixth inning and Roberts pulled him, calling 83 pitches enough for the night.

The innings were a new post-surgery high for Kershaw, who matched his season-highs in pitches and strikeouts (six) and allowed a season-low in hits (three).

In the second start of his comeback, Kershaw’s pitches looked lifeless. He lasted just 3⅔ innings in San Diego that night two weeks ago, failed to record a strikeout in a regular-season start for the first time in his career and induced just two swings-and-misses over 83 pitches that night.

In two starts since then, Kershaw has allowed just two runs in 10⅔ innings on eight hits and two walks while striking out 11.

“Nothing different,” Kershaw said, keeping any adjustments typically close to the vest. “Sometimes you have bad starts. You just make better ones.”

He left with a 4-0 lead over the Brewers. Joe Kelly quickly messed that up. He gave up a two-run home run to William Contreras then back-to-back singles before striking out Rhys Hoskins to end the inning.

Kelly has allowed five runs on five hits (two home runs) and two walks in 3⅔ innings over his past five outings, pushing his ERA for the year up to 5.32.

Contreras’ home run cut the Dodgers’ lead in half, 4-2, but Ohtani and Betts combined to add some cushion for the bullpen.

Ohtani drew a two-out walk and stole second base – his 33rd steal of the season to go with his 36th home run hit in the fifth inning. Betts drove him in with his single to make it 5-2.

“Overall there hasn’t really been much conversations about the lineup itself,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “But I’ve been proactive, really communicating with Mookie just to make sure that we’re in sync in our lineup.”

Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech and Daniel Hudson combined to retire nine of the final 10 Brewers to put the game away.

“Facing a really good team to start off the road trip, it was really important for us,” Ohtani said. “It feels really nice to have Mookie back and be able to get a win for the team.

“Not just me, but as I team I think we really feel the depth of our lineup. It really showed tonight in how we played.”

Welcome back, Mookie Betts! 💣

Catch all the action on #DodgersTV at no extra cost for Spectrum customers with both Internet and mobile services. 🔗: https://t.co/i0HWddfBus pic.twitter.com/OYPM2bFh5O

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2024

Shohei Ohtani had the 3-0 green light.

He didn’t miss. pic.twitter.com/2QjHokR6yg

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2024

“These boys… I love them and I’m just glad to be here.”
Mookie Betts on his return and his three RBIs.

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— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2024

Dave Roberts on Clayton Kershaw’s outing, Mookie Betts’ home run and his takeaway’s from today’s win.

Catch all the action on #DodgersTV at no extra cost for Spectrum customers with both Internet and mobile services. 🔗: https://t.co/i0HWddfBus pic.twitter.com/ft1GI295NP

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2024

“Overall it was a good game for the whole team.” Clayton Kershaw (5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks) discusses his outing and the win. pic.twitter.com/MGXo4yrOca

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2024

“Not just me, but as a team, I think we really feel the depth of our lineup and it really showed tonight.” Ohtani speaks about Mookie’s return and his thoughts on remaining in the leadoff role. pic.twitter.com/R33Ax5IhsT

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2024

101 mph from Michael Kopech. 😳 pic.twitter.com/GQtqYxVqQP

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2024

Originally Published: August 12, 2024 at 7:47 p.m.