The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their home opener with an impressive 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, delighting a sellout crowd of 52,667 at Dodger Stadium. The game featured standout performances from the Dodgers' trio of former MVPs: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.
Ohtani, the $700 million slugger, made a strong impression in his Dodgers debut, reaching base three times with a double, walk, and single. Betts and Freeman both contributed with home runs in the third inning, showcasing the offensive firepower of the Dodgers' lineup.
On the pitching side, Tyler Glasnow delivered a stellar performance, tossing six innings of two-hit ball and striking out five. The Dodgers' offseason acquisitions, including Glasnow and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, have bolstered the team's rotation and added depth to their roster.
The Dodgers' star-studded lineup, which boasts an average age of 31, proved to be too much for the Cardinals, as they managed just three hits on the day. Paul Goldschmidt's solo home run off Glasnow was one of the few highlights for St. Louis.
Offensively, the Dodgers' MVP trio combined for five hits, six runs, and four RBIs against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Mikolas, who had voiced his desire to outperform the Dodgers, struggled to contain the potent Los Angeles lineup.
Victor Scott II made his major league debut for the Cardinals, going 0 for 3 and stealing a base in center field. The Cardinals are dealing with several key injuries to start the season, including Sonny Gray, Keynan Middleton, and Tommy Edman.
Looking ahead, left-hander Zack Thompson will take the mound for the Cardinals in the next game, while Bobby Miller gets the start for the Dodgers in his return from a solid rookie season.
The Dodgers' star-studded roster and Hollywood glamour were on full display during the pregame ceremonies, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting season for the team and their fans.
