Bats explode early to back Clayton Kershaw’s brilliant 7 shutout frames – Dodgers Digest

Yesterday … well, let’s not talk about yesterday, shall we?

Today was a new day and the Dodgers got some revenge on the Giants, as they knocked around and knocked out their starter early with an offensive barrage, and Clayton Kershaw turned back the clock again with a vintage performance against the Giants to help the Dodgers cruise to a 11-5 victory.

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Let’s start with Clayton Kershaw, who is coming off his best start of the season, and once again was who they turned to in an important series coming off a tough loss. Well, all he did was pitch like it was a decade ago, giving the Dodgers both efficiency and effectiveness.

He faced the minimum in the 1st thanks to a walk being erased by a double play, got a clean 2nd, and worked around a lead-off double in the 3rd. After another clean frame in the 4th, he once again worked around a lead-off double in the 5th. The 6th started with a lead-off single, but that was the last thing the Giants got, as Kershaw retired the final six batters he faced.

With a huge lead there was no need to push him, but he could’ve gone further if it wasn’t a blowout: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 81 Pitches.

Kersh’s curveballs never get old. pic.twitter.com/vtA3pQJ8Ca

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2025

As mentioned, the Dodger offense finally got right a bit against Landen Roupp. The fireworks started early, as Shohei Ohtani broke a 10-game homerless drought by leading off with his 24th dong of the year for a 1-0 lead.

Not sure why that highlight starts so abruptly, so here’s a better look. pic.twitter.com/8umfrqv4xe

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

That was just the start, as the 2nd was a disaster for Roupp. Back-to-back walks to start the frame issued to Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy was followed by an Andy Pages single and Michael Conforto double that plated two runs. Ohtani was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Mookie Betts made Roupp pay with a two-run double. After another walk to Freddie Freeman reloaded the bases, a sacrifice fly from Will Smith AKA The Sac Fly Man completed the five-spot in the inning to make it 6-0.

How about five in the second? pic.twitter.com/C9Eg1hNp4I

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2025

That was the end of the line for Roupp, and boy was it a thankfully ugly one.

The Dodgers continued to add to the lead in the 3rd, as Max Muncy doubled and then scored later on a Hyeseong Kim single to push the lead to 7-0.

Kim dumps a single to his fellow countryman and former teammate in center to push the lead to 7-0. pic.twitter.com/VHYx2yyQM9

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

After taking a rest for the 4th and 5th, the 6th started like the game did, as Ohtani somehow yanked a pitch on the outside part of the plate with seemingly just one arm for his 25th dong of the year.

SHOHEI DOES IT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/hxgNP8hwvj

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2025

Ridiculous, man.

Later in the inning, with two outs, Smith singled and Teoscar Hernandez followed with his 13th homer of the year, his third game in a row with a dong, to make it 10-0.

Teoscar homers for the third game in a row! pic.twitter.com/R1QL4LAhkd

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2025

The homer certainly had Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda having fun.

Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia are having fun shagging homers. pic.twitter.com/trJwcxuFR3

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

After they couldn’t extend things in the 7th, it was a position player for the 8th, which was when Miguel Rojas hit his second homer to make it 11-0.

Miggy Ro! pic.twitter.com/zwVcPxcIzE

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2025

To close things out for Kershaw, it was Michael Kopech in the 8th, presumably as like a quasi-rehab appearance to make sure he can throw strikes. He did that with a clean frame and a pair of strikeouts.

Enrique Hernandez then entered for the 9th, and while he got a strikeout, he also walked three and gave up a grand slam to make it 11-4. Two more singles followed, which made it somewhat exciting, and after a Miguel Rojas error it was 11-5.

Enrique Hernandez’s devastating slurve and fastball combo notches him a strikeout. pic.twitter.com/qk5FQII0MJ

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

That brought in Anthony Banda for the final out, which is an insane thing to have to do just cause Rojas can’t flip a grounder to second instead of trying to throw it.

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An eventful game overall, really. Like a Shohei mess of a slide, a Teoscar adventure, and a Kershaw eephus.

For the love of god, Shohei, please with the slides. pic.twitter.com/vWCULOqYpQ

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

Teoscar had this all the way. pic.twitter.com/XLu5McLrRn

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

Clayton Kershaw, eephus era? pic.twitter.com/3Z5iqFrWdD

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2025

Also Joe Kelly got his ring!

Welcome back to Dodger Stadium, Joe. Congratulations Champ on the new ring! ? pic.twitter.com/r9OdQXbuJF

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2025

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This rubber match will be tomorrow for Father’s Day on ESPN, starting at 1:00 PM HT/4:00 PM PT/7:00 PM ET. It’ll be Dustin May on the bump against Kyle Harrison.