Dodgers Recap: Kersh Shines and Bats Erupt as LA dominates Giants
Game 71, 6/14/25: Dodgers 11, Giants 5
CHAVEZ RAVINE – Big win for the Dodgers on Saturday. The bats aggressively knocked out the Giants’ starting pitcher in just two innings. Then on the mound, Clayton Kershaw masterfully pitched seven scoreless innings, his first shutout of that length since June of 2023. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ bats exploded for 11 runs off San Francisco pitching, allowing the Dodgers to coast to an easy 11-5 win to tie the series at a game apiece and recapture sole possession of first place.
Bottom of the First
Prior to the game, fan favorite Joe Kelly triumphantly returned to Blue Heaven to proudly receive his World Series ring. It didn’t take long for the Dodgers to give Mariachi Joe a taste of what he’s been missing this year. They explosively got on the board early tonight. Leading off for the Dodgers in the bottom of the first, Shohei Ohtani powerfully crushed a ball over the right-center field wall for his 24th home run of the season. With that blast, he finally broke his ten-game home run drought. The team went into the second inning with a 1-0 lead over San Francisco.
Bottom of the Second
After Kershaw pitched an efficient 1-2-3 second inning, Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy got things started again off Giants starter Landen Roupp when they patiently walked, putting men on first and second with nobody out. Andy Pages then sharply drove one up the middle for an RBI single, easily scoring Hernández. The Giants intentionally walked Ohtani to set up a double play, but Mookie Betts swiftly made another team pay for that strategy with a two-run double off the left field wall. After Freddie Freeman drew the third walk of the inning to load the bases once again, Will Smith hit a sacrifice fly to send home Betts with the fifth run of the inning. That decisively knocked Roupp out of the game.
Meanwhile, Kershaw was in cruise control. He gave up a leadoff double to Heliot Ramos in the top of third, but he was stranded at second base, as Clayton retired the next three Giants in order. Indeed, it seemed Kershaw only got better when runners were on base. In four of Kersh’s seven innings, the Giants got the leadoff man aboard, only to see him languish on the basepaths and move no further.
Bottom of the Third
Leading 6-0, the offense wasn’t even close to finished. Max Muncy led off the bottom of the third with a line drive into left field for a stand-up double. Hyeseong Kim knocked in Muncy for his first hit of the game with a blooper into center field. The Dodgers loaded the bases once again as the Giants’ relievers struggled to find the strike zone. However, Freddie Freeman struck out with the bases juiced to end the inning. The game went into the middle innings with the score Dodgers 7, Giants 0.
Bottom of the Sixth
Things were pretty quiet for both teams until the bottom of the sixth. Ohtani led off the inning with his second leadoff home run of the night, effortlessly crushing the ball into the center field seats. It was Shohei’s 250th career home run in the major leagues, and one can only wonder where that total will end up by the time he hangs up his spikes. After the Ohtani blast, Will Smith got his first hit of the night with a solid line drive into left field for a single. Teoscar Hernández was up next and took the first pitch deep over the left field wall for a two-run home run, putting the Dodgers’ ninth and tenth runs on the board and the Dodgers firmly in the lead.
After a scoreless seventh, Clayton Kershaw’s night was done. Kersh pitched a hell of a game tonight with 81 P / 56 S / 7 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / 8 swing-and-miss. Kershaw skillfully kept the Giants off balance with his patented Cooperstown curveball, with which he got most of his swing-and-miss. After retiring the side in order in seventh, he walked off the mound to a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd and Dodger Stadium (well, maybe not from the Giants fans) and with that, the future Hall of Famer seamlessly handed off seven scoreless innings to the bullpen.
Bottom of the Eighth
With the Dodgers comfortably leading the Giants 10-0, the position players entered the game to pitch (nobody tell John Smoltz). San Francisco put catcher Logan Porter on the mound to preserve their bullpen. Miguel Rojas took Porter deep for his second home run of the season, decisively putting the Dodgers up 11-0 going into the ninth.
Top of the Ninth
As far as the rest of the game is concerned, maybe the less said about that the better. San Fransico scored five runs as the Dodgers gave up the shutout when Kiké Hernández took the mound. Anthony Banda had to come in to clean up the mess and ended the game with seven pitches. Kiké keeps this up, he might lose his closer role. Anyway, other than the comedy of errors that was the last half hour of the game, it was a dominant win for the Dodgers. Great pitching from Kersh. Ohtani breaks out of his slump in a big way, and the offense gets hits up and down the batting order. What’s not to like?
Both teams head into tomorrow’s game with a game apiece in the series. Dustin May will toe the rubber, looking to secure a series win over the rival Giants. The Dodgers hitters will have to contend with lefty Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.56 ERA, 25 SO), so look for righty bats to be featured in the batting order. The game starts at 4:10 PM PST and can be viewed on ESPN.
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