LOS ANGELES – Justin Turner hit a home run in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers crowned the day they received their World Series championship rings by beating Washington Nationals 1-0 on Friday.
Walker Buehler settled 6:00 innings with authority for the Dodgers, who took the best part in a fantastic pitching duel that marked their first game of the campaign as locals.
The Dodgers took the win without counting on their star gardeners Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, through injuries.
Joe Ross covered 5 blank innings, with two unstoppable balls, for Washington, who suffered their third straight loss after starting the campaign late and down due to a coronavirus outbreak on their roster.
In a pre-duel ceremony, the Dodgers received their rings from the Fall Classic monarchs. It was attended by some fans, who could not testify the previous campaign, disputed in empty parks by the pandemic and which led to the seventh coronation of the team in history.
Clayton Kershaw, Betts and his teammates received cheers from the 15,036 spectators who were allowed to enter Chávez Ravine.
Corey Knebel struck out his three rivals in the ninth chapter to provide his second rescue.
Buehler (1-0) allowed 6 hits and handed out four strikeouts, without giving tickets, in another grand opening for Los Angeles.
The defeat was for Luis Avilán (0-1), former Dodgers reliever.
For the Nationals, the Dominicans Victor Roures 4-1, Juan Soto 3-2, Starlin Castro 4-0. The Venezuelan Hernán Pérez 2-0. The Cuban Yadiel Hernández of 1-1.
For the Dodgers, they did not beat Latin Americans.