MLB
Kershaw Dealt as Dodgers Take NLCS Game 5
We were all wondering which Kershaw would show up today. Lucky for the Dodgers, it was the dominating Kershaw of the NLDS against the Braves. Clayton Kershaw absolutely dealt as the Dodgers took NLCS Game 5 against the Brewers with a score of 5-2. Kershaw threw a mostly beautiful 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and 1 run and striking out 9. For those who like to say how horrible Kershaw is in the postseason, how’s this stat: this is actually Kershaw’s 8th postseason start allowing 1 run or fewer and 3 hits or fewer. No one else in MLB history has more than 5 such starts. Just something to think about next time you want to criticize him. As for the rest of the game, here’s how it panned out.
Weird Start
Well, Game 5 of the NLCS got off to a weird start. Talk about going to the bullpen early! Wade Miley walked the first batter in the first inning and then got yanked! Brandon Woodruff came in to relieve Miley after his hefty workload. In reality, Counsell wanted the Dodgers to set their lineup for a left-handed starter and then pulled Miley after one batter for the right-hander Woodruff. However, Dave Roberts suspected something might be up since Miley was scheduled to start on such short rest. Which is why when you compare the lineups between Game 2 with Miley pitching and today, you’ll see Roberts had zero lefties in the lineup the first game and today he had two with Bellinger and Muncy.
Later, in the top of third, Lorenzo Cain had an RBI double to drive in Arcia and move Woodruff to third who had walked. Kershaw then had a big strikeout against Yelich to get the second out. He then walked the next batter but got out of a bases-loaded jam with a huge strikeout.
Dodgers Strike Back
In the bottom of the fifth, Chris Taylor hustled out a leadoff infield single. In doing so, he forced Arcia to make a bad throw and Taylor was able to go to second. Taylor then got an incredible jump and stole third on the first pitch to Hernandez. Hernandez got out, but Austin Barnes came up clutch and singled hard up the middle to score Taylor and tie the game 1-1.
Then, in the sixth, Turner got a leadoff bloop hit to right center. Machado got hit by a pitch with 1 out. Muncy then slapped the ball to opposite field and scored Turner from second and ended Woodruff’s day. Puig then drilled a ball up the middle to score Machado and put the Dodgers up 3-1, but Muncy got tagged out on the throw at third to end the inning.
Later in the seventh inning, Soria walked Kershaw. Then, Bellinger belted a double into the left center gap. Next, Turner drilled a ball up the middle to score Kershaw. Turner then advanced to second on the throw home. Cedeno came in to replace Soria. Dozier then hit a slow roller on the left side to score Bellinger to make the Dodger lead 5-1.
Finishing Out the Game
The Brewers tried rallying back in the ninth when Jesús Aguliar doubled off of Ryan Madson. Aguilar then got driven in by a two-out pinch-hit double by Curtis Granderson, to make the score 5-2. Even though he pitched two innings last night, Kenley Jansen then came in and closed out the game. Another solid post season performance by Jansen.
Coming up…
The Dodgers will now travel back to Milwaukee for Game 6 of the NLCS on Friday night. Hyun-Jin Ryu will be getting the start in what hopefully will be the end of the Brewers’ postseason and a World Series berth for the Dodgers.
Photo Credit: Malingering via Flickr
