Mookie Betts will get debut souvenirs as Dodgers roll

LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts singled in the seventh inning for his 1st strike as a Los Angeles Dodger, then signaled for the ball.

That, together with the lineup card, is headed for a display in his dwelling.

“This is a little something I’ll often keep in mind,” he said Thursday night time just after scoring the go-forward run in an 8-1 opening victory about the San Francisco Giants in a enthusiast-significantly less stadium. “It’s just a new chapter in everyday living.”

Betts went 1 for 5 with two strikeouts, a day following signing a $365 million deal covering 2021-32.

Betts spoke devoid of his bat when he kneeled in the course of the national anthem. Teammates Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy stood resting a hand on each individual of his shoulders. Giants manager Gabe Kapler, in his initial match as Bruce Bochy’s successor, kneeled, way too.

“It was just unity,” Betts mentioned. “We’re all on the identical staff, we’re all listed here for change, even the Giants.”

Betts’ point of view on kneeling has adjusted due to the fact 2016, when he reported he would not choose these motion. His father, Willie, served in Vietnam with the U.S. Air Power.

“I wasn’t educated, and that’s my fault,” Betts stated. “I know my father served and I’ll in no way disrespect the flag, but there also has to be adjust. Kneeling is for the injustice.”

Kiké Hernández homered and drove in five operates when tying his occupation high with 4 hits for Los Angeles.

“It’s a good feeling,” he mentioned.

Justin Turner grounded into a fielder’s selection and Betts beat second baseman Donovan Solano’s toss to the plate to give the Dodgers a 2-1 direct in the seventh. The Giants misplaced their movie challenge of the contact soon after Betts slid head-1st.

“If that out is recorded at the plate, I assume we’re conversing about a significantly diverse video game,” Kapler explained.

Betts struck out with the bases loaded, ending a 5-operate inning that made it 6-1.

Adam Kolarek (1-) bought the victory with 1 2/3 innings of aid.

Dustin May possibly grew to become the initial Dodgers rookie to get started on opening day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 right after Clayton Kershaw went on the hurt list for the reason that of a again issue. It was very similar to when Valenzuela was a late substitute for the wounded Jerry Reuss back again then.

“He saved his composure,” Hernández said. “He was not anxious or intimidated by the volume of cardboards we experienced in the stands.”

Might authorized a person operate and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 suitable-hander struck out 4 and walked none.

“It’s the sort of detail you desire about, throwing on opening day,” May well claimed. “Once the very first pitch was thrown I was all great and completely ready to get likely.”

Could initially was not on the 30-male lively roster, and the 22-year-outdated observed himself pressed into duty immediately after Kershaw’s back again stiffened throughout a bodyweight place workout on Tuesday.

Pablo Sandoval’s sacrifice fly scored San Francisco’s lone operate. Tyler Rogers (-1) took the reduction.

The sounds of the game had been amplified with only cardboard cutouts of lovers in regions of the stands.: The crack of the bat on a sharply strike ball. The DJ’s songs echoing. Foul balls clunking loudly on landing in the seats. The house plate umpire’s third-strike calls very easily read. Teammates yelled reminders to Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson about which foundation to throw to following he snagged a fly ball in the 2nd.

Giants starter Johnny Cueto allowed a single run and 5 hits about 4 innings.

The Giants and Dodgers held a black ribbon that wound together the baselines in a clearly show of unity immediately after pregame introductions. Anthem singer Keith Williams Jr. stood in the new heart industry seating to accomplish alternatively of the standard location close to residence plate. Some of the Giants kneeled for the duration of the functionality. Reliever Sam Coonrod selected not to be part of his teammates, expressing that he identified out about his teammates’ system just beforehand. “I meant no sick will by it. I really don’t think I’m superior than any individual,” Coonrod stated. “I’m a Christian, so I just believe that I cannot kneel just before just about anything besides God.” In a online video, 98-calendar year-outdated Rachel Robinson, whose husband, Jackie, broke the main league coloration barrier in 1947, gave the classic phone of “It’s time for Dodger baseball!”

A Mylar balloon floated down near next foundation in the later on innings, seemingly showing out of nowhere. A ball boy came on the discipline and snatched it in the course of a short pause in the action.