The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Tuesday’s matchup against the San Francisco Giants losers in their past six games at AT&T Park. What’s more, the Dodgers had won just four of their past 21 road games against the Giants. Clayton Kershaw changed that.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner entered a lifetime 10-4 with a 1.36 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) at AT&T Park. Kershaw’s night began on a bit of a rough note, as his effort to stop a chopper up the middle resulted in taking a comebacker off the right calf.
Kershaw completed the play for the out, but later limped while attempting to run out a grounder and suffered from calf tightness. He downplayed the minor injury following the Dodgers’ win.
The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, taking advantage of well-placed balls that seemed to frustrate Kershaw.
He responded by retiring 10 in a row, including five by strikeout, after allowing a one-out single to Joe Panik in the bottom of the fourth. Kershaw finished threw an efficient 90 pitches and finished with seven strikeouts over seven innings:
.@ClaytonKersh22 was strong, per usual. ? pic.twitter.com/YO4wq4VDWo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 26, 2017
It was Kershaw’s third time completing at least seven innings in four starts this season. He improved to 4-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to 2.29. Kershaw sports a 0.79 WHIP, and has 39 strikeouts to three walks.
