NEW YORK (AFP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers, coming off a second straight World Series disappointment, opened the 2019 Major League Baseball season with a bang on Thursday.
The Dodgers belted a whopping eight home runs in a 12-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium to launch their quest for a third National League crown.
The major league season began last week with the Seattle Mariners winning twice over the Oakland A’s in games played at Japan’s Tokyo Dome.
But the six-month campaign began for the other 28 clubs with typical Opening Day-style festivities across several venues, starting with the New York Yankees’ 7-2 win over Baltimore in New York and the New York Mets’ 2-0 win at Washington.
In Los Angeles, Joc Pederson hit two home runs and a double. Enrique Hernandez also hit two homers, Diamondbacks ace pitcher Zack Greinke was chased after 3 2/3 innings. The eight home runs tied a franchise record set in May 2002. No team has ever hit more on opening day.
The onslaught more than backed starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin. The South Korean left-hander limited the Diamondbacks to one run on four hits in six innings. He struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.
Meanwhile the Boston Red Sox, who vanquished the Dodgers in the World Series last season, fell 12-4 to the Mariners in Seattle.
Seattle’s new shortstop Tim Beckham smacked a pair of home runs in his first two at-bats off Boston ace Chris Sale.
