LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw hit the Yankees for the first time with four hits and nine strikeouts in seven innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York 8-4, backed by two more Mookie homers on Friday.
Betts led off the game with a home run and added an RBI single against Luis Severino (0-1) in Los Angeles’ six-run, eight-hit eighth inning.
It was the second time in a row that Betts contributed two home runs in the same game. He went 4-for-4 with three RBIs.
The National League-leading Dodgers got off to a great start in this compelling interleague series.
Kershaw (7-4) was 0-1 in his previous four starts against the Yankees in his 16-year career. However, the three-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher enjoyed an early lead this time and didn’t falter after allowing homers to Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson, who returned after a long hiatus.
In the end, Kershaw retired his last seven opponents and was cheered on by the Dodger Stadium crowd that raised their feet after his final out. They have now beaten every major league team they have ever faced except Baltimore.
Next month, the Dodgers will face the Orioles at Camden Yards.
52,534 fans showed up to witness the most recent battle between these legacy and economic powerhouses, former New York rivals who clashed in 11 World Series.
For the Yankees, Venezuelan Kleiber Torres is 4-1.
For the Dodgers, Cuban Miguel Vargas scored a run to make it 3-1. Venezuela’s Miguel Rojas thrashed RBI 3-0.
