Clayton Kershaw for so long throughout his career was relied on to extend momentum the Los Angeles Dodgers had or stop a losing streak and help the team get back on track.
Although no longer an ace, the 37-year-old found himself in a familiar position on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers were on a four-game losing streak as part of being mired in an extended stretch Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has called “middling baseball.” That played a part in the San Diego Padres passing the Dodgers for first place in the National League West, sitting one game ahead entering the series opener.
“There’s just no one more intense or focused than Clayton,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “He has a way of elevating people’s focus and play. And so to have him tonight, first game of this series, he’s the perfect guy.”
Kershaw held the Padres to just one run and allowed only two hits while getting through six innings.
“I mean, I think when you’ve done this as long as we have, it’s August now, you try and treat every day the same, and then hopefully the situation just helps magnify everything,” answered Kershaw when asked if he had a different mindset heading into the start.
“So it’s a game in August, obviously, it’s not that huge a deal. But the way we were going, it felt like a big game for us and thankful we got a win tonight.”
Friday was Kershaw’s third consecutive start of pitching six innings with just one earned run or fewer allowed.
“It’s just what you’re supposed to do. As a starter, you’re supposed pitch well, and when it’s your turn, step up,” he said of still maintaining success at this stage in his career.
“And our rotation is getting healthier, and we got a lot of guys that can throw the ball really well, so I just want to do my part.”
Clayton Kershaw embraces Padres matchups
Games between the Padres and Dodgers have come with heightened intensity over the years, and that’s especially anticipated during this current stretch of six head-to-head meetings over a span of 10 days.
“Yes and no,” answered Kershaw when asked if there’s an added sense of focus and intensity against the Padres. “I mean, I don’t know. It’s August. It’s not the end of the world, but at the same time, it’s an important game.
“So we played well tonight, and we’ll come back tomorrow and try to do it again. … It’s going to be a fun six weeks. The Padres are going to be right there. We’re going to be right there. We got a lot of games against them in the next 10 days.
“Obviously the division isn’t won or lost in the next 10 days, but it will make an impact, and we know that. I don’t know how to say it and not sound cliche, but we just got to keep playing. There’s just nothing else to do. We can’t put any more on it, any less on it.
“Just keep playing the game and hopefully our talent and our team will take over, which we know it will.”
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