Clayton Kershaw saw his streak of consecutive starts with at least six innings pitched snapped at 23 and the Los Angeles Dodgers twice squandered a lead in a 6-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers jumped ahead in the third inning on Justin Turner’s solo home run, and a homer from Will Smith and Jedd Gyorko’s RBI double in the fourth extended their lead to 3-0. The home run was Turner’s 10th in the month of August and 26th on the season, leaving him one short of tying a career high.
Kershaw immediately coughed up the lead as he surrendered back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third. One of those was to Christian Walker, who tied with Adam Dunn for most home runs (four) hit off Kershaw in his career.
After Kiké Hernandez’s sacrifice fly put the Dodgers back ahead in the fifth inning, Kershaw allowed a two-run double. He finished with six strikeouts in five innings but the five runs allowed set a season high and the outing was a third in a row in which Kershaw gave up multiple home runs.
The Dodgers’ comeback effort was further inhibited by Kenley Jansen allowing a leadoff home run to Eduardo Escobar in the eighth inning. The relief appearance was Jansen’s first since he blew a save against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers were without a baserunner for three straight innings until Chris Taylor led off the ninth with base hit. That was followed by a pinch-hit double from Cody Bellinger, and Joc Pederson walked to load the bases.
Archie Bradley then benefitted from Walker making a terrific diving stop at first base to start a double play. Ultimately, the home run Jansen allowed held as the difference in the game.
