LOS ANGELES – Justin Turner homered in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers ended the day they received their World Series championship rings by beating the Washington Nationals 1-0 on Friday.
Walker Buehler solved six authoritative innings for the Dodgers, who played most of a great pitching game that marked their first home game of the season.
The Dodgers took the win without their star outfielders Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, due to injuries.
Joe Ross covered five scoreless innings and hit a two-hitter for Washington, which suffered its third consecutive loss after starting the season late and taking victims as a result of a coronavirus outbreak on the roster.
During a pre-game ceremony, the Dodgers received their Fall Classic monarch rings. Some fans attended, who did not witness the previous campaign, played in parks empty from the pandemic, leading to the team’s seventh coronation in history.
Clayton Kershaw, Betts and their teammates received cheers from the 15,036 viewers admitted into Chávez Ravine.
Corey Knebel retired all three of his opponents in the ninth inning to secure his second save.
Buehler (1-0) gave up six basehits and struckout four without a walk in another great start for Los Angeles.
The loss went to Luis Avilán (0-1), a former Dodgers interviewer.
For the Nationals, Dominicans Víctor Robles 4-1, Juan Soto 3-2, Starlin Castro 4-0. The Venezuelan Hernán Pérez 2-0. The Cuban Yadiel Hernández 1-1.
For the Dodgers, they didn’t hit Latin Americans.