Clayton Kershaw pitched a postseason gem and Mookie Betts backed him up with a scintillating offensive effort as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-3 in Game 1 of the 116th World Series.

Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award-winner and ­future Hall of Famer whose lackluster postseason record puts him under the microscope this time of year, was rock-solid as the Dodgers seized the iniative in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship showcase, being played this pandemic-disrupted year at the neutral site of Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The 32-year-old lefthander surrendered two hits - including one home run - with eight strikeouts and one walk in six innings, throwing 53 of his 78 pitches for strikes.

Betts boosted the Dodgers' bid for their first World Series title since 1988 with a solo home run and a World Series record-equaling two stolen bases in one inning.

Cody Bellinger, whose solo homer was crucial to the Dodgers' 4-3 series-clinching win over Atlanta in the National League Championship Series, came through again with a two-run homer off Rays starter Tyler Glasnow.

"It's awesome, it's great to get this series going with a win," Kershaw said.

"That's the biggest thing for us. It's always important to get that first game in a series, and just for me personally, it's awesome, to pitch well and get a win in a World Series. I'm just thankful to get another opportunity."

The Dodgers improved to 3-1 in series openers this postseason, while the Rays are 2-2 in Game 1s. Los Angeles also won the opener of the 2017 World Series 3-1 against the Houston Astros before falling in seven games.

A year later, Betts' Red Sox defeated the Dodgers in five games to win a championship.