Dodgers coast past Cardinals in home opener

Field Level Media|published: Thu 28th March, 18:53 2024

Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (50) throws to first for an out during the third inning of an opening day game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. credits: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman hit home runs, while Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow delivered key contributions in their first home game for their new team as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.

After receiving a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd of 52,667 before his first at-bat, Ohtani reached base in his first three trips to the plate with a pair of hits and a walk. Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million heavily-deferred contract in the offseason.

Glasnow, who was acquired in a trade to lead a rebuilt rotation, gave up one run on two hits over six innings with five strikeouts in his second outing for his hometown team. Glasnow (1-0) pitched a solid five innings in the team's season-opening victory last week against the San Diego Padres at Seoul, South Korea.

Paul Goldschmidt hit a home run for the Cardinals as he continued his career-long success against the Dodgers, but St. Louis' injury woes were too difficult to overcome. Goldschmidt had all three of the Cardinals' hits.

With new staff ace Sonny Gray injured, Miles Mikolas (0-1) started the Cardinals' season opener and gave up five runs on seven hits with two walks in 4 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals also were without outfielders Tommy Edman (wrist), Lars Nootbaar (ribs) and Dylan Carlson (shoulder).

The Dodgers' offense got off to a fast start when Betts led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, went to third on an Ohtani double and scored on a Freeman single. Freeman scored on a Max Muncy sacrifice fly for the early 2-0 lead.

Betts led off the third inning with a home run well over the left-field wall and Freeman followed an Ohtani walk with a home run to right-center for a 5-0 lead.

Goldschmidt cut the Cardinals' deficit to 5-1 when he went deep in the fourth inning against Glasnow, for his 34th career home run against the Dodgers and his 19th at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers received an RBI single from James Outman in the sixth inning to score Teoscar Hernandez, who was also making his home debut for Los Angeles. Muncy drove in his second run on a single in the seventh.

Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough pitched the final three innings for the Dodgers to earn the save.

—Field Level Media

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