Returners' Home Runs Not Enough, Yanks Lose to Dodgers

The Yankees and the Dodgers have faced each other in the World Series 11 times, the most common such matchup. When the Dodgers were in Brooklyn, they beat the Yankees in 1955; but the Yankees won in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953 and 1956. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, and beat the Yankees in 1963. The Yankees won in 1977 and 1978. The Dodgers won in 1981. It hasn't happened since, although each team reached its respective League Championship Series in 2009 and 2017.

(In the NBA, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have faced each other in 12 NBA Finals, the 1st when the Lakers were still in Minneapolis. In the NFL, the most common matchup in NFL championship games is the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears, 6, though both teams being in the NFC means that it hasn't happened since 1963, and, barring realignment, can never happen again. The same goes for the most common Stanley Cup Finals matchup: The Montreal Canadiens have faced the Boston Bruins in 7 Finals, but now, can only face each other before the Finals.)

Last night, the Yankees began a 3-game series with the Dodgers, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Luis Severino started for the Yankees, and he had nothing. The Dodgers tagged him for 6 runs in the 1st inning, including home runs by Mookie Betts and Max Muncy.

Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton were both activated from the Injured List. The former hit a home run in the 2nd inning, the latter in the 4th. Other than that, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw was on his game. A lot of Yankee Fans were on hand to cheer Stanton's homer, and only a few of the Dodger fans booed them. Besides, that only made it 7-2 Dodgers.

Tommy Kahnle was also activated from the Injured List, and he pitched a scoreless 5th inning. Ryan Weber pitched the 6th, and he gave up Betts' 2nd home run of the game. Donaldson also hit a 2nd, in the 9th, but it didn't help much. Dodgers 8, Yankees 4. WP: Kershaw (7-4). No save. LP: Severino (0-1).

The series continues tomorrow night, at 7:15 PM our time (4:15 theirs). Gerrit Cole starts against Michael Grove.