Dodgers Defeat Giants in Another Extra Innings Game
The Dodgers and Giants squared off again on Sunday afternoon, in a game started by Clayton Kershaw. It was an interesting game to say the least, with little to no offensive production from either side.
Kershaw took the mound and was phenomenal for the majority of the game. His breaking ball was working well and managed to keep himself out of trouble for most of the game. He went seven innings, allowing six hits and one earned run. He also struck out six and did not allow a free pass. His only run came when JT Chargois allowed a base hit after Kershaw left two on base in the eight.
On the offensive side of things, not much was happening for either side. The Dodgers had ten hits, but again continued to struggle with runners of base. Los Angeles left nine on base and went a combined 2-9 with runners in scoring position. Nevertheless, Kyle Farmer came up with a clutch hit in the tenth inning, scoring Cody Bellinger from second base.
The more interesting story line from the game though, was Kenley Jansen. Jansen came on in the bottom of the inning to close out the game, and he looked much better than he has all season. His cutter was consistently touching 93-95 mph, and the only trouble he got into was a “little nubber” of a hit from Hunter Pence.
For the Dodgers, his velocity could not have returned at a better time. Los Angeles was in the midst of a four game losing streak before Jansen shut the door. His dominance will be vital down the stretch if the Dodgers have any hopes of returning to the Fall Classic.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers get yet another off game Monday, as they await a two game mini series with Oakland. Hyun-jin Ryu will take the mound on Tuesday to face an A’s team that limped to a 4-7 record.
Message to Dodger manager and so-called “braintrust” – let the best pitcher in baseball win or lose his own game -he has earned he right. Case in point – Sunday’s game – Roberts brings in another loser reliever (a redundancy) who promptly gives up the tying run, charged to Kershaw, who once again does not get the win he has earned 3 times already this year.
Seems a trend lately with Kershaw is seven innings and out. They’re not going to push him it seems. I don’t know if I am in favor of this or not. If a pitcher is going to get hurt, he’s going to get hurt (regardless of workload). But as a general rule of thumb Roberts isn’t crazy about letting the SP face a lineup three turns. Hope to see Kersh going deeper into starts in games like this one in the future myself.