Clayton Kershaw had pitched well since returning from the injured list but struggled through his worst start of the season as the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 7-4 to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
The Dodgers were trying to rebound from their first complete-game shutout loss at Coors Field, and provided Kershaw with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. However, he walked two batters and allowed the Rockies to pull even.
Kershaw went on to pitch just four innings, allowing at least one run in each frame. He exited with the Dodgers trailing 6-2.
Following the loss, Kershaw told Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA there wasn’t much he could take from the outing
“Yeah, I don’t know. I think I’m going to go with not overthinking, say I sucked today and thankfully they’ll let me do it again in five days. Not a lot of positives today, for sure.”
Kershaw’s 4.81 ERA at Coors Field is his highest for any ballpark, but he didn’t believe pitching at altitude was to blame:
“I don’t think I would’ve pitched well anywhere today. Just wasn’t very good all the way around. I don’t really think about Coors Field. I just try to think about it like any other day. Like I said, I don’t think I would’ve pitched well anywhere.”
When pressed further on the outing, Kershaw surmised there could be a silver lining to take from it:
“I haven’t been that bad in a long time. It was good to check you where you’re at, remember this game is not easy and get going again. … I haven’t pitched this bad in a while. That’s really all I can say.”
The nine hits Kershaw allowed were his most since giving up 10 on Opening Day of the 2021 season, which was a start at Coors Field. His four walks were the most free passes issued since putting five on against the San Diego Padres on Aug. 1, 2019.
Kershaw hadn’t allowed six runs since the New York Mets had that many in his outing on June 19, 2017.
Kershaw clears air with Freddie Freeman
The Dodgers’ road trip entailed Freddie Freeman’s first time at Truist Park as a visitor, which made for an emotional weekend. Freeman was brought to tears on multiple occasions and it prompted Kershaw to publicly express hope the Dodgers were not running in second place.
Kershaw and Freeman have since discussed the remark and maintain a good relationship.
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