The anticipated pitchers’ duel between Clayton Kershaw and Jon Lester was nothing of the sort, with both laboring through short outings. They combined to allow five home runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers outslugged the Chicago Cubs to complete a three-game sweep with a 9-4 victory.
Clayton Kershaw threw 109 pitches in only 4.1 innings, and surrendered three home runs for the fourth time in his career; one other instance came earlier this season against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
The first homer Kershaw allowed was on a fastball to Willson Contreras. The 12-pitch at-bat ended with the Cubs taking a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers trailed in a Kershaw start for the first time since May 1.
That was short-lived, however, as Cody Bellinger clubbed a Lester curveball to right-center field for a three-run home run. Bellinger became the fastest player in Dodgers franchise history to 10 home runs.
By doing so in 31 career games, he broke the previous record held by David Ross (44 games). The Cubs had Kershaw on the ropes in the third inning but left the bases loaded.
Lester was stung again by the longball in the bottom of the third, with Kiké Hernandez’s three-run shot extending the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1. Chicago responded with three runs in the fourth inning behind homers by Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo.
The three home runs Kershaw allowed all came on a fastball. Despite the rocky outing and soaring pitching count, he was allowed to bat with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Ian Happ failed to make a diving catch in left field, resulting in a base hit for Kershaw.
Lester gave way to Mike Montgomery after walking Logan Forsythe. The Cubs left-handed reliever struck out Corey Seager and retired Chris Taylor to end the inning.
Kershaw exited with one out in the fifth inning and responsible for runners on second and third base. Josh Fields struck out Baez and Kris Bryant to get the Dodgers out of the jam.
The book closed on the left-handed ace at four runs allowed on 11 hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Kershaw finished four strikeouts shy of reaching 2,000 in his career.
It was the first time he allowed 10 hits, four earned runs and three home runs in a single game, including the postseason. What’s more, the Cubs’ 11 hits tied a career high tied with the Rockies (2013 season) for most allowed by Kershaw in a single start.
The battle of the bullpens went in the Dodgers’ favor. Austin Barnes’ solo home run in the fifth inning provided a bit of insurance. Hector Rondon then gave up a booming two-run homer to Yasiel Puig in the bottom of the seventh.
Fields retired the side in order in the sixth, and Sergio Romo and Adam Liberatore combined to do so in the seventh inning. Liberatore also set the Cubs down in order in the eighth. Kenley Jansen entered in the ninth for his first action in five days.
Jansen added to the bullpen’s scoreless work by retiring Happ, Jason Heyward and Contreras. The Dodgers’ sweep of the Cubs was their first since 2012. Overall, Los Angeles took four of six games from Chicago in the season series.
Of note, Franklin Gutierrez was removed after the top of the first inning due to an undisclosed illness.
