Dodgers Interview: Rushing Shoulders Blame After Kershaw’s Rocky Return

LOS ANGELES — Dalton Rushing may be new to the big leagues, but after Saturday night’s 11–9 loss to the Angels, the rookie catcher sounded like a seasoned veteran.

Just a few days into his MLB career, Rushing found himself behind the plate for Clayton Kershaw’s long-anticipated return and delivered a strong performance with the bat—his first career RBI, an RBI single later, and a key ground-rule double in the sixth that tied the game. But in the aftermath, the 23-year-old was more focused on what he could have done better than on what he accomplished.

“I hate losing way more than I love winning,” Rushing said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s something to learn from. I’ll look at some things tonight and we’ll move forward.”

While many rookies might deflect blame or lean on inexperience, Rushing took full responsibility for the breakdowns during the game, particularly when navigating the Angels’ lineup.

“Maybe I let some things speed up on me,” he said. “As a rookie, that’s my job—I’m going to take blame for every little thing that happens on the field, whether it’s good, bad, or ugly.”

It was a high-pressure assignment for the young backstop, catching the return of a franchise legend while facing a surging lineup. Despite the rough result, Rushing recognized the honor of catching a future Hall of Famer.

“He’s the best left-handed pitcher of all time,” Rushing said. “It means the world to me to catch a guy like that. But by no means am I satisfied with what I did with him tonight. I think I could’ve done a lot of things better.”

Despite his own criticism, manager Dave Roberts praised Rushing’s performance both behind the plate and at it.

“I thought Dalton called a good game,” Roberts said postgame. “It’s up to the pitcher to execute. He had a great night with the bat, and I thought he did a nice job overall.”

Rushing also reflected on his pregame work with Kershaw and the planning that went into it.

“I felt like we had a good plan going in,” he said. “We stuck to it for the most part. Maybe there were some hiccups that I made along the way, but that’s something I can grow from.”

Asked what specific areas he wants to improve, Rushing pointed to pitch sequencing and adapting in-game.

“Just navigating the lineup better. Understanding what we’ve done to a guy already, what we want to do the next time through. Keeping the pace under control,” he said. “I want to make sure I give us the best chance to win across nine-plus innings.”

Still, there were bright spots to build on. Offensively, Rushing was a spark. He went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and played a role in all three of the Dodgers’ middle-inning scoring rallies. He also caught Luis Rengifo stealing in the sixth inning, flashing his defensive promise.

“Every run matters at this level,” Rushing said. “And I’ve been able to scratch a few across. That’s special. But I know my job is to do more than hit—I’ve got to manage the game and help the pitchers succeed.”

For a rookie catcher, few nights are as defining as your first time catching Clayton Kershaw under the lights at Dodger Stadium. It wasn’t perfect, but Rushing showed that he’s not just here to fill a role—he’s here to take responsibility, improve, and earn trust.

The Dodgers may have dropped this one, but if Rushing’s mindset is any indication, they’ve found a catcher who’s ready for the moment.

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