It was the eighth inning, there was one out, the Dodgers led by 3, and Kershaws pitch count was up to 88. Roberts sent out pitching coach Mark Prior to the mound instead then viewed Kershaw select off Urias and strike out the next batter, David Freitas, on five pitches to end his getaway properly.
” This was a fun night,” Kershaw stated minutes later.
It was so much more than that.
It was 8 scoreless innings versus a Milwaukee Brewers team desperate to keep its season alive. It was 13 strikeouts by a man who 12 months previously no longer seemed to possess swing-and-miss things. It was quite possibly the very best postseason start of Kershaws remarkable profession, a rewarding sign for a Dodgers group poised to win all of it.
” It was just enjoyable to kick back and view him make pitches,” Roberts said after a 3-0 win in Thursday nights Game 2 of the wild-card series got rid of the Brewers and pushed the Dodgers to a five-game National League Division Series.
Kershaw created 24 swings and misses, his most considering that June 2016, according to ESPN Stats & & Information. All 13 strikeouts– a postseason profession high– came on breaking balls, the most given that his 2014 no-hitter and the most by any pitcher in the postseason over the past 20 years.
Through the first 4 innings, before the Dodgers offense finally broke through, Kershaw matched an electric Brandon Woodruff pitch for pitch. After Woodruff folded, Kershaw appeared to get more powerful. All told, he enabled 4 baserunners.
” It was just a Kershaw getaway,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “It was remarkable.”
Kershaws previous postseason trip at Dodger Stadium was Game 5 of in 2015s NLDS against the Washington Nationals, which shifted on the back-to-back crowning achievement Kershaw provided up to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto– on a fastball and a slider that had actually become indistinguishable from each other.
That night, Kershaw was uncharacteristically somber. He referenced the narrative about his postseason imperfections and acknowledged its validity. However then he attacked his offseason with purpose. By the time baseball resumed in July, Kershaw had begun to see the life return on his pitches. The fastball was regularly exceeding 90 mph, and the slider had more shape.
It was the 8th inning, there was one out, the Dodgers led by 3, and Kershaws pitch count was up to 88. Roberts sent out pitching coach Mark Prior to the mound instead then watched Kershaw choose off Urias and strike out the next batter, David Freitas, on 5 pitches to end his getaway properly.
Through the first 4 innings, before the Dodgers offense lastly broke through, Kershaw matched an electric Brandon Woodruff pitch for pitch. His slider wasnt sharp enough, so Kershaw invested the following days working to accelerate his arm slot to obtain the proper torque on the pitch.” If you wouldve told me that the first time Im ever gon na pitch in Texas is in the department series against somebody thats not the Rangers– I indicate, its the craziest thing ever,” Kershaw said.
He made a 2.15 ERA and 59 strikeouts through his very first nine starts however then offered up 8 hits in four innings versus the Los Angeles Angels in the regular-season finale. His slider wasnt sharp enough, so Kershaw invested the list below days working to quicken his arm slot to achieve the proper torque on the pitch.
” Ive been known to be pretty persistent, do the same things no matter what in between starts,” Kershaw said. “I think that might not be the best idea in some cases.”
The Dodgers will face Fridays Game 3 winner in between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, beginning Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, at Globe Life Field, one of 4 bubbles Major League Baseball has established for the remaining 3 rounds of the postseason. Los Angeles wants to remain there all the method through the World Series– a World Series Kershaw can win in his hometown.
” If you wouldve informed me that the very first time Im ever gon na pitch in Texas is in the department series versus someone thats not the Rangers– I imply, its the craziest thing ever,” Kershaw stated. Ive never ever in fact gotten to pitch there, so its gon na be weird. I live actually 10 minutes from the group hotel, and so Im gon na be looking at good friends and family through a glass wall.
