Dodgers-Phillies Recap: Kershaw Shines, Arruebarrena Hitless In Debut
Clayton Kershaw faced off against Roberto Hernandez as the Los Angeles Dodgers began their weekend series with the Philadelphia Phillies. Dee Gordon led the game off with a line drive and proceeded to steal second and third base. Yasiel Puig hit an RBI single and the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead right off the bat. Kershaw retired the batters in order for his first inning of work.
Heading into the second, Carl Crawford hit a leadoff home run to give the Dodgers the 2-0 lead. Hernandez retired the following three batters, including a strikeout of Erisbel Arruebarrena in his first major league at-bat. Kershaw struck out Marlon Byrd and allowed just one walk in a hitless second inning. In the third, Puig was the only batter to reach base as Hernandez and Kershaw breezed through the inning.
The Phillies starter led off the fourth by hitting Andre Ethier with a pitch. Crawford grounded into a double play and Hernandez proceeded to walk A.J. Ellis and Arruebarrena. With the rain beginning to pour, the game was delayed but resumed after 43 minutes. Kershaw was at the plate as the game resumed and grounded out for the final out. The Dodgers ace struggled a bit after walking Carlos Ruiz and giving up a double to Chase Utley. With runners on the corners, Kershaw quickly recovered and struck out the next three batters to end the fourth.
Fernandez robbed Gordon of a leadoff base hit in the top of the fifth, but drama ensued as Puig reached on a single that hit off his foot before dribbling towards third. The umpires gathered and allowed Puig to stay on first. Adrian Gonzalez flied out for the final out, and then Phillies first base coach Juan Samuel was thrown out of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Kershaw was unaffected as he retired the batters in order.
Heading into the sixth, Ethier hit a leadoff single to begin the inning. After Crawford struck out, Ellis hit a line drive to left to advance Ethier to third. Both runners were left on base as Arruebarrena and Kershaw recorded the second and third outs. Kershaw allowed a double to Jimmy Rollins and walked Ruiz to begin the bottom of the inning. In Kershaw fashion, he quickly worked his way out of the jam and retired the next three batters he faced.
Hernandez entered into his seventh inning of work and gave up a walk to Gordon, who proceeded to steal second. Figgins hit a sacrifice fly to advance Gordon to third, and Hernandez intentionally walked Puig. Mario Hollands was called from the bullpen and Gonzalez grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Brandon League entered the game for Kershaw in the bottom of the seventh and immediately loaded the bases without recording an out. J.P. Howell replaced the right-hander and turned the inning around and managed to keep the Phillies scoreless.
Heading into the eighth, Antonio Bastardo replaced Hollands on the mound. Bastardo allowed back-to-back hits to Ethier and Crawford to begin the inning, but the reliever then retired the next three batters to finish off the inning. Brian Wilson assumed the eighth inning duties and dealt got through inning without allowing a hit.
Bastardo remained in the game for the ninth inning and although he walked Puig with two outs, he struck out Gonzalez to end the inning. Kenley Jansen came in to close the game and retired the batters in order to finish as the Dodgers defeated the Phillies 2-0.
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