Apr 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) reacts after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers Highlights: Freddie Freeman & Will Smith Deliver Key Hits, Teoscar Hernández’s Home Run Against Giants

Originally posted on Dodger Blue | Last updated 4/2/24

It was a total team effort for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they handily defeated the San Francisco Giants, 8-3, in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Four different Dodgers drove in a run and James Paxton pitched five solid innings in his first start for the team.

Mookie Betts once again got the Dodgers out to a fast start with a leadoff triple and came around to score the very next at-bat on a Shohei Ohtani RBI groundout. The Dodgers struck again in the third inning with an RBI single by Freddie Freeman and a sacrifice fly from Will Smith to increase their lead to 3-0.

The game remained at 3-0 until a Michael Conforto home run in the sixth inning off of Ryan Brasier gave the Giants their first run of the ballgame. Teoscar Hernández immediately responded in the Dodgers’ half of the sixth and broke the game wide open with his three-run homer.

Small ball #Dodgers producing runs.

(: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/C7LjOGnfZ7

— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 2, 2024

Can't spell Teoscar Hernández without HR.

(: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/khnppXS7s5

— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 2, 2024

Shohei and Teoscar having a broment
(: @ohtanisukidayo) pic.twitter.com/WsgaBe6b10

— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 2, 2024

Paxton spent most of his night walking a tightrope, but found a way to navigate all the traffic on the bases for a solid Dodgers debut. He allowed nine total baserunners during the start, but managed to keep the Giants off the scoreboard across his five innings of work.

There was a lot to like from Paxton’s first outing with the Dodgers, as he did not allow an extra-base hit and racked up five strikeouts.

From here, both the Dodgers and Giants each scored two more runs across the last three innings of the game, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Mookie Betts remains red-hot for Dodgers

Betts has been the best hitter for the Dodgers through their first seven games and that continued on Monday.

Betts had two hits and a walk, raising his batting average to .520 and his on-base plus slugging percentage to a remarkable 1.836. He has also been excelling at setting the table at the top of the Dodgers lineup for Ohtani and Freeman.

This article first appeared on Dodger Blue and was syndicated with permission.

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