Spring Training Recap: Kershaw Hangs Tough, Dodgers Fall To A’s
After Van Slyke tied the game with an RBI groundout, Juan Uribe walked and Kendrick stole third base. Heisey legged out a chopper to third base to thwart an inning-ending double play, which allowed Kendrick to score and the Dodgers took a 2-1 lead.
Despite taking a ball off his cheek, Kershaw was back on the mound in the fourth and needed just 10 pitches to get retire the side in order.
The bottom of the fifth was another efficient 1-2-3 frame for Kershaw. Through five innings of work, the left-hander threw 68 pitches, with four strikeouts, and allowed one run on three hits. He threw additional pitches in the bullpen before making his way to the clubhouse.
In the sixth, Ethier legged out a grounder hit to short to start things out. After getting Kendrick to fly out, Gray’s day was finished. Brock Huntzinger took over for the A’s and retired the two batters he faced to end the inning.
J.P. Howell allowed one runner to reach base in the bottom of the sixth, but otherwise quieted the A’s to preserve the Dodgers’ 2-1 lead. Howell’s scoreless inning of work was then followed by one from Adam Liberatore in the seventh.
David Aardsma threw a scoreless eighth then turned the ball over to Blake Smith in the ninth. The Minor Leaguer walked the leadoff hitter and gave up a double that put the tying and go-ahead runners in scoring position with no outs.
An intentional walk loaded the bases with no outs, which was followed by a double play that tied the game. The A’s then won the game on a walk-off single.
[divide]Clayton Kershaw Unhappy With ‘Misfires’