Editorials

NLDS Game 4 Recap: Kershaw Crosses Hurdle, Dodgers To See Game 5

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

PAGES: 1 | 2

Hernandez hit a leadoff single in the fifth, and Matz intentionally walked Turner with two outs and Hernandez standing on second base. The decision paid off as Seager was called out on strikes to end the inning.



Kershaw struck out the first two batters faced in the bottom half of the fifth before allowing a base hit to Juan Lagares. Michael Cuddyer pinch-hit for Matz, only to strikeout swinging on a patented Kershaw curveball to end the inning.

Bartolo Colon took over in the sixth and bookended the inning with strikeouts, getting the second against pinch-hitter Andre Ethier, who pinch-hit for Justin Ruggiano and remained in the game in left field.

The top of the Mets’ order was unable to get anything going against Kershaw in the bottom of the sixth, with Granderson and Wright both striking out in the process. Sitting on 86 pitches through six innings of work, Kershaw hit for himself in the seventh and led off with a fly out.

Hernandez followed with a base hit to right, but was tagged out by Murphy for the start of an inning-ending double play on a Kendrick chopper. Cespedes reached on an infield single in the bottom of the seventh, evoking memories of Kershaw’s seventh-inning troubles in the postseason.

The concern was laid to rest, though not without another scare as Duda flied out to the warning track in left-center field, and Turner was forced to make a terrific stop on a hard-hit grounder for the third out. Tyler Clippard kept the Dodgers off the board in the eighth and the Mets within two runs of a tie.

Chris Hatcher came on in relief of Kershaw in the bottom of the eighth, Jimmy Rollins was inserted at shortstop, and Seager slid over to third base. Hatcher retired the first two batters faced, then walked Granderson and gave way to Kenley Jansen.

Granderson stole second base without a throw, which was rendered somewhat irrelevant as Wright worked a walk.

[divide]

Previous page 1 2

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button