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Monday was a special night at Dodger Stadium. The team celebrated the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, Clayton Kershaw made his season debut, and Joc Pederson hit a walk-off home run as the Dodgers defeated the Reds 4-3.
Kershaw took the hill for the first time after missing the first three weeks of the season. He was welcomed by his former teammate Yasiel Puig, as the former Dodger hit a two-run home run to put the Reds on the board early. It was the first time since the trade that Puig appeared in a game at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers answered right back in the bottom of the first, as an RBI double from Cody Bellinger made the score 2-1.
Bellinger would leave later in the game after taking a pitch off his knee. Luckily for Bellinger and the Dodgers, the x-rays were negative and he appears to be fine.
Kershaw settled down the rest of the way, allowing only three hits and striking out six over his final six frames. He went seven innings, and threw only 84 pitches.
LA tacked on another run in the fifth to tie the game. AJ Pollock stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, walking on five pitches.
The game was tied as they headed into the ninth. With a runner on third and two outs, Matt Kemp stepped up to the plate to face his former teammate, Kenley Jansen. With two strikes, Kemp was able to reach out and put one in right field, giving the Reds a 3-2 lead.
Down one in the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers looked to David Freese to start the rally. He did his job, walking on five pitches, bringing the game-winning run to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Pederson sent an 82 mph slider over the right field fence, giving the Dodgers the 4-3 victory. It was Pederson’s seventh homer of the season.
THAT WAS FOR JACKIE. #Jackie42 pic.twitter.com/CQt3cjshWN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 16, 2019
Monday particulars
WP: Kenley Jansen (1-0) 1 IP, 1 ER, 2 SO
LP: Raisel Iglesias (0-3) 2 ER
Home runs: Joc Pederson (7), Yasiel Puig (2)
Up next
The Dodgers will turn to Kenta Maeda tomorrow night as the Dodgers will look to get the series win. First pitch is at 7:10 pm on SportsNet LA.