Clayton Kershaw allowed 23 home runs during the regular season, most of his career and seven more than his previous high mark set in 2012. That trend carried into Game 1 of the National League Division Series, as the Arizona Diamondbacks pounded the Los Angeles Dodgers ace for four home runs.
Kershaw became the first Dodgers pitcher to surrender that many homers in a postseason game, and it tied an all-time playoff record. Although he labored through the first six innings, Kershaw limited the Diamondbacks to just two runs — each scored on a homer.
The Dodgers held a 7-2 lead through six innings. Pitching on five days rest and at 92 pitches, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts send the three-time Cy Young Award winner back to the mound for the seventh.
The Diamondbacks’ six, seven and eight hitters were due up. “For him, that part of the order, I felt good with him going back out there,” Roberts explained postgame.
After Adam Rosales lined out to center, Ketel Marte and Jeff Mathis found the seats in left field for back-to-back home runs. Once again, the seventh inning of a playoff start proved to be an Achilles heel of sorts for Kershaw.
It just wasn’t coming out as good as I would have liked it to that last inning,” he said. “So they hit some good pitches. … Not really. I just didn’t have much left.” Kershaw and Roberts maintained health is not an issue.
The left-hander missed five weeks while recovering from a lower back strain, and hasn’t yet looked his usual self since returning. As for his struggles during the later innings of postseason starts,
“The intensity of playoff games, there is more riding on each pitch,” he said. “Mentally, you try to focus that much harder every single pitch and just let the moment try to take over that moment every single time. Yeah, that can be taxing, for sure. But, no excuses. I gave up too many home runs tonight.”
Fortunately for Kershaw and the Dodgers, he was provided a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Justin Turner’s home run, and Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager and Turner padded the lead as the game wore on.
To a man, the trio of players commended Kershaw for his performance. “I’m not sure what he said about tonight, but I thought he was outstanding and challenged guys, pitching with the lead, like he should,” Turner said.
“Yeah, he gave up four solo homers, but who cares? When you have a lead like that, it’s about attacking guys, not giving up free bases and pounding the zone. So I thought he was spectacular for us tonight.”
In the end, despite of being stung by the long ball, Kershaw earned his first playoff win at Dodger Stadium. The plan remains for him to next start in a potential Game 5 of the NLDS or Game 1 of the NL Championship Series.
“Until something changes, that’s what I’m going with,” Kershaw said.
