Kershaw bounces back, Dodgers beat winless A’s
OAKLAND, Calif. – Clayton Kershaw struck out eight in seven smooth innings to send the Athletics to their worst start in more than a century, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat win- less Oakland 5-1 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.
Mookie Betts homered for the first time this season, a towering solo shot to left-center in the ninth. Max Muncy and Edwin Rios also went deep for the
World Series champion Dodgers (5-1).
At 0-6, the A’s have matched the poorest start in franchise history. The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics also began the season with six consecutive losses.
Oakland and Atlanta (0-4) are the only winless teams in the majors.
Knocked around in his first outing when he lost at Colorado on opening day – the Dodgers’ lone defeat this season – Kershaw (1-1) was much more crisp against slumping Oakland. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and four hits, didn’t walk a batter and retired 20 of 22
– increasing from four per game to 8.1.
“She really gets going on the defensive end,” YC head coach Bob McGalliard said. “And gets our offensive transition game going.”
She improved her total shooting by 8% and increased her free throw percentage by 18%.
It didn’t matter the role, Meerchaum adjusted to her new position on the team and took over the reins, despite having to replace the 201920 Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club Girls Basketball Player of the Year Veronica Saco.
“Kylie was huge for us,” McGalliard said. “We put her at a new spot and she picked it up right away. She filled in Veronica’s spot in terms of scoring.”
However, Meerchaum noted that her success – along with the Shamrocks’ playoff run – wouldn’t have been possible without her teammates.
“I couldn’t have done anything without my team,” she said. “All together, we just made a dream become a reality.”
Not only did Meerchaum help YC average 51 points offensively and generate 21 steals a game on the other end of the floor, her leadership skills contributed to the development of several sophomores.
YC had three seniors on the roster, but zero juniors, leaving Meerchaum and company responsible for injecting their knowledge of the program into the future Shamrock starters.
“We depended on our seniors to lead and Kylie stepped right up in that role,” McGalliard said. “She helped lead the young kids on how to do things. (The freshman and sophomores) had to learn fast.”
Meerchaum’s basketball career is now over, but she plans on attending a university of her choice and majoring in business.