Clayton Kershaw looked to help the Los Angeles Dodgers extend their five-game winning streak on Saturday night as he faced the Atlanta Braves for the second time this season.
He was efficient in the first inning, retiring the side in order on just 10 pitches while picking up his first strikeout. Chase Utley’s string of strikeouts reached five straight as he went down swinging int he bottom of the first.
Bud Norris then retired Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez to keep the game scoreless in the early going. Jeff Francoeur pulled a leadoff single by a diving Justin Turner in the second. He then moved into scoring position on Kershaw’s balk.
Kershaw disagreed with the call and got into a brief shouting match with first base umpire Joe West before stepping back on the mound. Francoeur eventually reached third base with two outs, where he was stranded as Adonis Garcia went down swinging.
Norris retired the first two batters faced before giving up a two-out double to Joc Pederson that landed just fair down the right field line. The extra-base hit snapped Pederson’s 0-for-20 stretch that dated back to May 29.
Nothing came of it, with Howie Kendrick grounding out to end the second inning. After Daniel Castro drew the sixth walk from Kershaw this season he was moved into scoring position on Norris’ sacrifice bunt.
Ender Inciarte’s attempt at a bunt single didn’t pan out, and Kershaw came off the mound to make a play on a dribbler up the third base line for the final out.
CONTINUE READING: Kershaw has streak come to an end, accomplishes negative feat for first time in career
Castro made a diving stop on a grounder up the middle, but his throw to first base was late and Kershaw reached with one out in the bottom of the third on an infield single. After Seager worked a two-out walk, Turner hit an RBI single up the middle to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The base hit ended Turner’s 0-for-15 stretch that spanned over six games, including his first at-bat on Saturday. Freeman led off the fourth with a base hit, but Kershaw faced the minimum in the inning by getting a strikeout followed by a double play.
Trayce Thompson drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth and later stole second base with one out. Kendrick also walked, then Thompson tagged to advance to third on A.J. Ellis’ deep fly ball to center. Kendrick stole second base with Kershaw batting, who was called out on strikes to end the inning.
Norris largely continued to match Kershaw, as he worked around a two-out walk of Turner in the bottom of the fifth to keep the Dodgers’ lead at 1-0. Kershaw hit Norris with a pitch to start the sixth inning, marking the first time in his career he plunked an opposing pitcher.
Chase d’Arnaud reached on an infield single with one out, but Kershaw retired the next two batters faced to get through another scoreless inning, which was his final on the night. The outing was the first in 12 starts this season in which Kershaw did not complete at least seven innings.
Joe Blanton gave up a leadoff single to Nick Markakis in the seventh and confusion ensued two batters later. Pederson appeared to make a sliding catch on a sinking line drive, but third base umpire Mark Ripperger ruled the ball was trapped.
Unaware, Pederson threw the ball into the infield and an out was eventually recorded at second base. The Dodgers could have challenged the call to keep the slower Markakis on first base instead of Garcia, but didn’t. Garcia promptly stole second base, but was stranded.
Pedro Baez worked around a one-out single in the eighth inning to keep the Dodgers’ slim lead intact. Turner led off the bottom of the eighth with a gift double as Inciarte misplayed a sinking line drive to right-center field.
Thompson set a career high by drawing his third walk of the game, which put runners on the corners with one out. Ian Krol took over and saw his first pitch to Pederson go for an RBI bunt single.
Thompson and Pederson then pulled off a double steal, which prompted Krol to intentionally walk Kendrick to load the bases. The Dodgers padded their lead behind an Ellis’ sacrifice fly and Yasmani Grandal pinch-hit RBI single.
Kenley Jansen walked Freeman to open the ninth, and he was allowed to advance to second base as Jansen threw the ball into the dugout without calling time. The Braves couldn’t capitalize and the Dodgers’ 4-0 victory put them in position to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday.