Clayton Kershaw didn’t have his best stuff, but it was the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen that ultimately doomed the team in an 8-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Kershaw allowed two runs on six hits, including a pair of solo homers, over six innings pitched. He finished with five strikeouts against two walks. The left-hander retired the side in order just once, in the fifth inning.
“It was a grind, for sure,” Kershaw said of his outing against the White Sox. “Bottom line, six innings and two runs on a day that a lot of stuff wasn’t going right, I’ll take it overall.
“I think I had some bad walks, gave up some hits, a couple homers, so there were a lot of things that needed to be cleaned up. But overall, stuff-wise, I think my stuff was actually decent.
“It’s a good team against lefties. They’ve got some guys that really hit lefties well. I left some balls over the middle of the plate, but overall it was OK. The guys did a great job of battling back in the bottom of the sixth, so that was great to see. Obviously, a tough way to end it.”
Kershaw issued both of his walks to Elvis Andrus, who has a below league-average .277 on-base percentage this season. “I had two bad walks to the same guy, so maybe he was a little bit scary in there,” Kershaw joked. “I don’t know. I didn’t throw enough strikes to Andrus.
“Overall, I think I was ahead of hitters most of the game. But yeah, there were two bad walks. I don’t know how to explain. I’ll just try to not let it happen next time.”
Despite the early home runs and lack of command, Kershaw managed to keep the Dodgers within striking distance. L.A. overcame a 2-0 deficit by scoring four runs in the sixth, but saw their lead evaporate after the bullpen endured another rough game.
“I think you could look at it two ways,” Kershaw began. “Obviously losing isn’t fun, especially late in games. But we continue to fight and put ourselves in good spots to win games.
“So I think the optimists say it will turn and we’ll start winning these games. But yeah, it’s definitely a challenge to lose late.”
Dave Roberts frustrated Dodgers let Clayton Kershaw down
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who recently called on the bullpen to collectively improve, was disheartened after the group squandered another lead. “Very deflating,” Roberts said of the bullpen’s struggles.
“Clayton pitched his [behind] off, competed, didn’t have a whole lot as far as stuff, gutted his way through six innings. And in his last inning he had to get five outs. We took a lead and we gave it away.”
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