The Los Angeles Dodgers were defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second straight night on Tuesday after not being able to string any hits together, falling 6-1.
Clayton Kershaw made his second start of the season and was touched up for two solo home runs early by Daniel Descalso and David Peralta. It was the first time that Kershaw has given up two home runs to left-handed batters in the same game in his 11-year Major League career.
Other than the two solo homers, Kershaw was actually quite good on the night. He allowed just four hits and the two runs in six innings while striking out six and walking one.
Naturally, though, Kershaw was not satisfied with his performance, putting the loss on himself and admitting he needs to be better, via SportsNet LA:
“My mindset doesn’t change every start. You’re not supposed to give up runs as a pitcher. This one is on me tonight, that first inning throwing that many pitches really only set me up to go six. After a night like last night, six is not gonna cut it. You need to get through seven, get through eight. It’s just a tough position to put your bullpen in to cover innings at the end like that so I’ve got to minimize pitches early. And give credit to them, they battled and had good at-bats in the first inning there.”
Kershaw is right that the team was hoping he would give them more length coming off Monday night’s 15-inning marathon that saw all eight of the Dodgers relievers get into the game.
It did not help matters that Scott Alexander and Pedro Baez did not pitch well in relief of Kershaw, as they combined to walk in three runs, which in turn allowed the Diamondbacks to put the game out of reach.
The loss dropped Kershaw to 0-2 on the season for the first time since 2009. He has only given up three runs in 12 innings in his two starts, so despite the winless record, he sports a 2.25 ERA.
The Dodgers as a team have now lost eight consecutive regular-season games to the Diamondbacks. The feather in their cap, however, is a sweep in the 2017 National League Division Series.
