Even now, Clayton Kershaw.
In spite of everything these years, Clayton Kershaw.
When the Dodgers are reeling and roiling and shedding their grip on a protracted scorching summer time, who’s the one participant who can cease the autumn and calm the nerves and, oh yeah, kick some San Diego Padre butt?
Nonetheless, nonetheless, nonetheless, Clayton Kershaw.
He’s 37 with a battered 18-season physique and a fastball the velocity of a Zamboni and but there he was Friday evening, carrying a complete frightened Dodger nation on his weary shoulders into the opener of a three-game collection in opposition to the cocky rivals who had simply stolen first place.
Closing rating: Dodgers 3, Padres 2
Closing line: Six innings, two hits, one run.
Closing verdict: He’s nonetheless All That.
“We had the right guy on the mound tonight, I think we all know that,” stated supervisor Dave Roberts, smiling for what appeared like the primary time in per week. “What he did for us tonight, not only just the compete, but the stuff … getting us through six innings was huge, setting us up for the rest of the series … Clayton set the tone … big, big outing by him.”
It was a blast from the previous, solely it’s been occurring within the current, Kershaw behaving just like the workers’s second-best starter, enhancing his file to 7-2 whereas decreasing his ERA to three.01 and, as loopy as this as soon as sounded, making an early case for inclusion within the postseason rotation.
“It was a good night,” Kershaw stated.
Understated as ordinary. For all this sport meant, it was an important evening.
Since July 4 the Dodgers had been worse than even the Colorado Rockies, with a 12-21 file whereas shedding 10 video games within the standings to the Padres in a span of 40 days, surrendering first place simply two days in the past, and set to play the Padres six occasions within the subsequent two weeks.
They desperately wanted any individual to cease the bleeding. And earlier than the sport, Roberts claimed that Kershaw was “the perfect guy” to do it.
Good prediction. Virtually good efficiency.
There was Kershaw, spinning and steering and browsing the ball previous the Padre bats with obvious ease, his solely mistake a dangling curve that Ramón Laureano hit 400 toes.
There was Kershaw, deftly making performs from the mound, demonstrably pleading for each shut strike name, proudly stalking from the mound right into a dugout stuffed with hugs and high-fives.
And there was Kershaw, after his maligned bullpen danced by way of hazard and barely survived, admitting that possibly this sport meant just a little extra.
“When you play everyday, things can spiral pretty quick,” he stated. “So maybe just coming home, having an off day to reset, and playing good games … it just takes one to get going. Hopefully this was it tonight for us.”
Earlier than the sport, Roberts acknowledged that the Dodgers simply play more durable, and with extra urgency, when Kershaw is pitching.
“He had a way of elevating people’s focus and play,” Roberts stated.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw turns to stroll again to the dugout after the Dodgers accomplished a double play in opposition to the Padres within the sixth inning Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Positive sufficient, a workforce that had seemingly forgotten to do the little issues did each little factor, from nice defensive performs on the corners from Alex Freeland and Freddie Freeman to the eighth-inning sweeper from Blake Treinen that fooled Manny Machado into stranding two runners with a popout.
It is a workforce that devoutly follows Kershaw … after they’re not sitting again and admiring him.
“He’s built for these big moments,” stated Teoscar Hernández, whose seventh inning homer ultimately proved to be the distinction. “He is a legend.”
Kershaw was at his greatest when the Dodgers’ greatest was wanted, and in doing so he introduced sanity again to the Nationwide League West and old school hardball again to a collection that had change into low-cost and unseemly.
In these two groups’ seven earlier conferences this season, the Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit 3 times, Shohei Ohtani was hit twice, and Roberts and Padres supervisor Mike Shildt engaged in a quick shoving and shouting match.
The stage was set for extra unhealthy blood, however Kershaw, who entered with a profession 23-11 file and a pair of.19 ERA in opposition to the Padres, shortly put an finish to that. He retired the Padres on a three-up-three-down first inning and effectively dominated them from there.
“It’s a game in August, obviously, it’s not that huge a deal,” Kershaw stated. “But the way we were going, it felt like a big game for us and, thankful that we got a win.”
The one doable controversy emerged when Kershaw was faraway from the sport after simply 76 pitches, shocking followers who didn’t have time to present him the right standing ovation whereas leaving the sport within the shaky palms of the bullpen.
Get used to it. The Dodgers are neatly going to guard the midseason Kershaw in hopes of maximizing the October Kershaw.
“I just think we’ve got to take care of him,” Roberts stated. “For Clayton to give us six strong innings of one-run baseball, he did his job, there was no reason to push him more.”
Earlier than the sport, Roberts was requested if his struggling workforce held a players-only assembly. He stated that, no, the clear outcomes of the following week could be the equal of any assembly.
“I don’t like to be embarrassed, I don’t think our players do, so this series I’m expecting high intensity and high performance,” Roberts stated. “I think in itself, the schedule over the next week, will suffice in lieu of a meeting.”
In an opener that pulled the 2 groups right into a first-place tie, the early outcomes have been clear.
Excessive depth? Verify.
Excessive efficiency? Verify.
Clayton Kershaw? Nonetheless.
