(Photo Credit: RealTalkSportsMania)
It only took Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers (mostly Kershaw) two hours and seven minutes to halt a disastrous six game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, while at the same time preventing the Padres from completing the three game sweep in Los Angeles.
Kersh pitched a three-hit, complete game shutout, struck out 14 San Diego batters, and singled home the game’s only run, leading the Dodgers to a 1-0 victory.
“You’d be lying if you said you don’t want to be the guy to end the streak, so that definitely feels good,” Kershaw said. “We needed a win.”
It was Kershaw’s 13th shutout and 22nd complete game in 248 career starts. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner walked none and retired the first 14 batters that he faced.
For anyone who hasn’t seen the highlights, the Dodgers provided a quick three minute clip on Twitter accentuating just the kind of day CK had.
About the only threat that San Diego mustered on the day was when first baseman Wil Myers chopped a ground ball single to the opposite side of the defensive shift, much to the dismay of Kershaw, known to be against such sabermetric adjustments behind him.
Right fielder Matt Kemp, who was instrumental in the Friars’ first two wins of the series, blooped a single to shallow right to advance Myers to third, however, the rally would end with a strikeout of left fielder Melvin Upton Jr., and ultimately a flyout to left by catcher Derek Norris.
The Dodgers scored the only run of the game in the third inning. Catcher A.J. Ellis doubled to center with one out. Kershaw followed with a slow, ground ball single to center scoring Ellis easily. Kershaw was retired after being caught in a rundown when the throw to home was cut-off by Myers.
It wasn’t a good day for the Dodgers offensively by any stretch of the imagination, as the only other hit of the afternoon was a one-out double by center fielder Trayce Thompson down the line in left in the fifth inning.
Including the the lone run on Sunday, the Dodgers scored just 12 runs in the entire seven game homestand.
Kershaw improved to 53-25 in his 120 career starts following a Dodgers loss. He has pitched at least seven innings in all six of his starts this season. Sunday marked Kershaw’s 45th career game with double-digit strikeouts.
After a day off on Monday, the Dodgers play their first inter-league series of the season as they face Tampa Bay beginning Tuesday. Southpaw Scott Kazmir will oppose Rays’ lefty Matt Moore in the opener. First pitch is slated for 4:10 p.m. local time.