Clayton Kershaw made it through all of one inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Wrigley Field. The outing was the shortest of Kershaw’s career.
He threw 39 pitches, lost the release point on the slider and curveball, and was hurt by shaky defense. The Cubs’ big inning began with a Kris Bryant double and Anthony Rizzo single that led to taking an early lead.
Then after Javier Baez battled back from an 0-2 count to draw just his second walk of the season, Corey Seager failed to make what appeared to be a relatively routine backhanded play in the hole and the single loaded the bases.
David Bote cleared them with a drive to left field that hit off the wall and rolled by AJ Pollock on his misplay.
Kershaw’s shortest start of his career had been 1.1 innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010, coincidentally also on May. It also marked a second time he allowed at least four runs in the first inning since giving up five to the Washington Nationals on Aug. 28, 2008.
If there was a silver lining to be found in the deflating performance, Kershaw conceivably could start on short rest Saturday rather than the Dodgers relying on a bullpen game.
The Cubs added to their lead in the third inning when Dennis Santana inadvertently started a two-out rally by hitting Jake Marisnick with a pitch. Ildemaro Vargas followed that with a flare single and shortly after he stole second base without a throw.
It seemed innocent enough with Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks at the plate, but then both runners scored on a wild pitch. Of course in the grand scheme of the game, that second run meant little.
Though, that isn’t to say the Dodgers didn’t have their opportunities against Hendricks. They had two runners reach in second, third and fourth innings, only to be turned away each time.
Hendricks throwing a complete game was another successful start this season when he didn’t face the Atlanta Braves.
Dodgers recalled Ruiz
The Dodgers recalled Keibert Ruiz ahead of the doubleheader beginning, and his pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning prevented the team from being shut out for the first time this season.
L.A. will make a second roster move on the day when they add a 27th player for the nightcap of the doubleheader.
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