While the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen, namely Adam Liberatore, once again failed to protect a lead, Monday’s game was another positive step forward for Clayton Kershaw. His fourth start of Cactus League play also saw the three-time Cy Young Award bat for himself.
That marked a first for Kershaw and any Dodgers pitcher this spring. He flied out in his lone at-bat, though forced Brewers starter Junior Guerra to throw seven pitches. As for his work on the mound, pitch count prevented Kershaw from going the expected four innings.
He nonetheless completed 3.2 shutout innings, finishing with two hits allowed, and seven strikeouts against one walk. Kershaw extended his Spring Training scoreless streak to 9.2 innings.
The Dodgers ace uncharacteristically walked Keon Broxton to open the game, but responded to notch back-to-back strikeouts followed by a pop-out to end the inning.
Orlando Arcia doubled with one out in the second inning and reached third base with two outs on a wild pitch. But he was stranded when Kershaw caught Eric Sogard looking.
That started a string of six consecutive batters retired, which was snapped on Jesus Aguilar’s two-out double in the fourth inning. The second extra-base hit Kershaw allowed was in some part due to Matt Kemp getting turned around in left field.
Liberatore allowed the Brewers to load the bases before managing to get out of the inning, preserving Kershaw’s scoreless streak and at the time, the Dodgers’ 3-0 lead.
