Throwing a career-high 132 pitches, the magnificent Clayton Kershaw came within one strike of a shutout before settling for a 2-0 victory Tuesday over Washington.
Kershaw entered the ninth inning with 114 pitches under his belt (about 60 of those coming in the first three innings, then about 50 over the next five). He gave up two warning-track fly outs, then endured a 10-pitch battle with Adam La Roche that ended with a single to center.
The 25-year-old lefty, who crossed the 1,000-inning mark in his career, struck out 11 and allowed five hits and a walk. With the bases loaded and two out in the top of the first, Kershaw struck out the next batter … and the next five.
Brandon League, as you might have guessed amid his ongoing struggles, was not given the opportunity to close. Kenley Jansen and Paco Rodriguez warmed up in the bullpen behind Kershaw in the ninth, and it was Jansen who struck out Tyler Moore to end the game.
Kershaw lowered his ERA to 1.40, taking over the major-league lead. In his past four starts, he has allowed two earned runs in 30 2/3 innings for a 0.59 ERA with 32 strikeouts against 16 baserunners.
He also scored the Dodgers first run, starting the bottom of the third by getting hit by a pitch. One out later, Matt Kemp singled, and one out and a wild pitch later, Andre Ethier singled them both home.
Kershaw’s previous career high in pitches in a single game was 125, on July 26, 2011. He threw a 108-pitch complete game in his next start, allowed four runs in the one after that, and then had a 0.96 ERA the rest of the 2011 season.
One more thing to scare the rest of the baseball world: Kershaw currently has a 1.40 ERA, and every full season of his career, he has been a better second-half pitcher.
2009: 3.16 first half, 2.27 second half
2010: 2.96 first half, 2.84 second half
2011: 3.03 first half, 1.31 second half
2012: 2.91 first half, 2.10 second half
Christopher Staaf
I wonder what Clayton said to Mattingly to let him stay in the game lol
I will say this: Brandon League should not close games and I was glad to see Jansen out there. He’s still the best option we got.
Anonymous
Boy, if Greinke really is good to go, this season could still have a bit of candy left in it for the Dodgers.
Anonymous
I agree, but we need more than 4 hits per game
Anonymous
Just got home from the game. What a magnificent performance by Kershaw. Wow!
KT
I just got home 1/2 hour ago and it’s 0100….The game, bobble head and the company was well worth the drive!!
Jon Weisman
Mattingly said Kershaw will get an extra day of rest, rather than pitch five days from now in Atlanta, to take advantage of an off-day in the schedule Thursday. http://www.dailynews.com/rss/ci_23245755?source=rss
underdog
I wish he could pitch in Atlanta, but OTOH glad he’s being taken care of and the future’s more important. Our pitching makes me a bit nervous in that series but I think they’ll be in those games.
Jon Weisman
Jason Repko has retired http://www.ydr.com/revolution/ci_23244460/jim-seip-repko-loses-fire-walks-away-from
Anonymous
Nice for him that he was able to walk away on his own terms. Love the part about the triple. He didn’t have enough talent to be a major league starter, but I always enjoyed his enthusiasm for the game. He was a joy to watch in every way that Andruw Jones was not.
Anonymous
Liked his enthusiasm as well. Nice that he could walk away though, as I recall some of his teammates had to be carried away after encounters with him. I will never forget the game when he started in place of Kemp against Oswalt and the ‘Stros. He fanned like 4 times. The rest is a bit fuzzy…I think he was one the way to fanning for the fifth time and something weird happened. Anyone else remember?
Anonymous
As I look back at the game, it appears that a balk was called on what would have been the third strike and the fifth strikeout, and he subsequently flew out.
Anonymous
Except when crashing into Furcal.
Anonymous
Keys to winning:
1) Kershaw gives up 0 runs.
2) Kershaw scores 1 run.
3) League does not pitch in key situations.
Jon Weisman
Clayton Kershaw’s ERA in his last 151 2/3 innings is 1.48 http://www.baseballmusings.com/cgi-bin/PitcherInfo.py?StartDate=07%2F29%2F2012&EndDate=05%2F14%2F2013&GameType=all&PlayedFor=0&PlayedVs=0&Park=0&PlayerID=2036
Anonymous
Josh Beckett for Zack Greinke is a good trade. If Ned can trade Dee Gordon for Hanley Ramirez, he won’t look like such a bad GM. Juan Uribe for Mike Schmidt would be an even neater trick.
Anonymous
Would you prefer Ramirez at short with a mixed bag at third, or Ramirez at third with Gordon at shrort? While he may be the Anti-Ozzie, Gordon seems to bring an element to the offense that is needed.
underdog
That’s been my preference, if Gordon showed us he’d improved on defense and at the plate, and he seems to have shown both for sure so far–have HanRam at 3rd, Gordon at SS. Use supersub Punto to fill in for either of them, and have Uribe backup as well. Especially when Ellis is back. Then you have a good offensive infield, and two very capable backups. When MEllis is back, Cruz should be punt(o)ed.
Anonymous
You have my vote. I really wanted to see Cruz bust out, but instead he just busted.
Anonymous
Absolutely, I also endorse this message.
underdog
The problem is he’s not just using Greinke to replace Beckett, he’s more officially replacing emergency starter Magill. It’s all very confusing, Capuano replaced Greinke, then Fife replaced Billingsley, then Lilly did, then Magill filled in for Capuano, then… oh, I give up.
But… yes, it’ll be great to have our #2 starter back. :)
underdog
Just imagine if he had any run support, but, well, why carp about that right now. Just enjoying what a gem we have and feel like the runs will come. I remember a stretch where Matt Cain got similar or even worse run support and then the Giants finally started scoring for him.
Anyway, what a wonderful and nearly-heroic performance last night. Glad to see Kenley close it out for him.
underdog
This seems an interesting piece that I can only read the first part of since I don’t have a BP sub (but Mike Petriello recommended it):
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=20579
Out of Left Field
Did the Dodgers Make Suckers of the Red Sox?
by Matthew Kory
nice to see someone take that perspective for once, and take on the Boston PR push.
Anonymous
First part is definitely interesting. I can’t see the rest either, but subsequent points may state things like Sands has move on to the Pittsburg organization where he is hitting only .154 in AAA. De La Rosa has an ERA of over 4 in AAA with a K:BB ratio of only 2.5:1 and talk is of him perhaps being considered at closer. Webster may end up being the real prize, but was hit hard in his second ML start.
My take is that both teams will end up with benefit, though the Dodgers may be hard to see if Crawford and Gonzalez continue to separate themselves this far from the rest of the team’s hitters.
underdog
Totally agree. I still think Webster is a prize and will be good for Boston. But that could basically be it for all those players. And they obviously saved a ton of money. But the meme that the Dodgers got fleeced is so ludicrous I find it frustrating that people keep pushing it, so was glad to see some push back. The Dodgers really wanted to have a power hitting 1st baseman for years, and maybe AGon’s best power is behind him but he’s still a great add (despite Loney’s hot start in the AL East, which is misleading imho) and Crawford looks like a great addition. Heck, Punto’s been great, too. Beckett was the hope against hope part of that trade, and was good in LA late last year but hasn’t been so far this, but could still contribute. And the Dodgers could afford to take this on. I agree with you that ultimately it still could be good for both teams and we should leave it at that. People always want to make it into “winners” and “losers”, and meanwhile the Boston media basically buys whatever POV the Red Sox PR machine pushes, so that’s how we got here. But rational minds know better.
Anonymous
other views on the trade and on Rubby:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/27280/the-trade-an-early-reckoning?src=mobile
http://www.bosoxbanter.com/2013/05/rubby-de-la-rosa-could-be-the-red-sox-late-inning-answer/
btw K/BB of 2.5 is not as bad as dale’s only suggests and ML closer is not Siberia
Anonymous
Agreed, but certainly not the high hopes held for him at the time of this deal. And he’s not yet closing at the major league level. Never said he won’t pan out, but I think we all thought he’d at least in the Boston rotation this year.
Anonymous
I certainly did; but, Boston never had such a plan they decided to bring him on very slowly coming back from TJ surgery. He has been pitching very well as both links I put up say; more details in the 2nd one. Hope you read them.
I think I have a rational mind (reference to underdog below) and I think the Dodgers gave too much for what they got. I very rationally hope I’m very wrong.
Anonymous
Time will certainly tell and I have no doubt you could be right. Much like the Casey Blake deal though, there is immediacy vs.long term benefit. No one can argue the value of Carlos Santana, but Blake (with Manny) was a big and necessary part of the Dodgers making the NLCS that year.
Anonymous
Is it possible that this idiot could sink any lower? If this was humor, it missed the mark. http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-simers-20130515,0,881956.column
underdog
TJ Simers is on a mission to prove that just because Dodgers saved his life doesn’t mean he has to change his asinine ways.
Anonymous
Yeah, he’s becoming T.J. Slimer.
Anonymous
He was lower when he was cozying up to Jeff Kent against “the kids.”
Jeffrey Thomas III
Ugh. I feel bad for giving that guy a page click. If we all keep reading his articles the LA Times will think he’s worth keeping around.
Anonymous
I enjoyed the dig at Lyons.
Anonymous
I likes the 3 weeks line he tossed at Davey Johnson.
Anonymous
This is pretty sad stuff. How can the LAT run something like this?
KT
Well yesterday I arrived at the game wearing my Kershaw jersey with the intent to change into my Kemp jersey after the 4th as Bob in Vegas suggested.
After the top of the third and 55 pitches later I knew kersh was going to need offensive help. The woman who gave me the free ticket said to me “Kershaw probably wouldn’t be long for the game if he keeps this up” and I replied “He could have a couple of 8 pitch innings and be right in it”. So I put my Matt Kemp jersey over the Kershaw one. The offense (Kershaw, Kemp and Dre) came alive and gave us 2. The Kemp jersey calmed the Kershaw jersey and Clayton pitched a 9 then an 8 pitch inning in the 4th and 5th.
Coincidence…I think not. The magic of the autographed jerseys ^_^
Anonymous
Kershaw is the best. I can’t believe we have him.
foul tip
Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the unfortunate question, “what did you think of Kingman’s performance?” and 4 other Lasorda memorable rants====
http://mlb.si.com/2013/05/14/tommy-lasorda-dodgers-dave-kingman-rant/?sct=uk_bf2_a4
——————————–
Also, there seems to be a rumor the Dodgers may sign Jonathan Sanchez. Has all the stars aligned….former Giant, pretty much washed up, probably pointless if not completely useless, yada, yada….
Anonymous
Not just washed up, but was never very good in the first instance.
Anonymous
Rotation fodder for the Isotopes, I suspect.
Anonymous
As long as that is all. I once thought this guy had something, but it seems to have left.
Anonymous
He was always brain-dead.
Anonymous
Beckett was put on the DL to make room for Greinke.
Jeffrey Thomas III
If you guys don’t read Deadspin, they’ve had some great posts on Bryce Harper’s collision. After the initial worry of seeing him going down, it was clear that he made a bad play. But Buster Olney and Tim Brown among others keep repeating Harper’s own line about how he just plays hard…
http://deadspin.com/bryce-harper-wasnt-playing-hard-last-night-he-was-pla-505699626
and
http://deadspin.com/again-bryce-harpers-misplay-was-a-blooper-not-an-act-506636917
KT
Today’s lineup:
https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/334799451149455360
Craig Montgomery
That’s no last place lineup!
Craig Montgomery
Kinda miss Loney
Anonymous
Loney must be in the ether.
foul tip
Why? The current team hasn’t disappointed you enough offensively?
Anonymous
Loney. Keep it going. I miss you.
Anonymous
Miss him as well, but not like he didn’t get a chance here. Would guess that it will be hard for him to sustain a bapib of .408.
underdog
I realize we can easily imagine the same thing happening to our runs-challenged Dodgers but…
can I still laugh at Giants for getting 1 run in 7 full innings vs 62 year old Ramon Ortiz in a hitters park?
KT
so true Lol
Anonymous
Of course. He’s done more for the Dodgers tonight than he ever did in an LA uniform.
Anonymous
Link, Link? (I have gotten lazy).
Anonymous
Good first inning by ZG. Anybody here? lol
Linkmeister
Hey, I got my “Deuces are Wild” t-shirt in the mail today!
Anonymous
Coolness.
Linkmeister
Gameday: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_15_wasmlb_lanmlb_1&mode=gameday
KT
Nice hit Matty…like that you are going to RF
Anonymous
Gonzo comes through! .800
KT
Let’s go Gonzo
Gonzo!!
Anonymous
Really liked Zach’s first inning.
KT
me too very efficient
KT
Nice pitch for the K
Anonymous
Like Vin checks for WP with a runner on third, I checked and Greinke has not hit any Nat in tonight’s lineup.
KT
alright another efficient inning
Anonymous
Does Greinke have a pitch count tonight?
KT
I heard something like 90
KT
Dre is stroking the ball lately
KT
He’s hitting the lefties great now…time to get the righties fixed
Anonymous
Santangelo telling story of Harper meeting Vin, who Bryce had grown up listening to.
KT
Good eye SVS
Anonymous
Wow! Zach!
KT
well that settles if he’s going to swing or not
Greinke!!
KT
putting up the picket fence
Anonymous
and I thought he couldn’t bat!!
KT
nice isn’t it
KT
Eric Stephen twitter post:
pic.twitter.com/3mFmxYQOme
KT
Way to get on Nicky
Anonymous
No room for Mellis?
KT
always room for Mellis…He’s better than shoe and cruz and uribe
Anonymous
No Uribear love? :(
KT
Oh I think he’s much better this year…just stating facts or opinions depending on how you look at it
Anonymous
Just teasing ya.
Anonymous
Gonzalez is being very productive while playing hurt, but I wonder if we should just DL him and let him fully recover (if it’s even possible in a short time). It’s tough to watch him in pain.
KT
AJ! and Adrian station to station with a rest area in between
Anonymous
OK SVS, make a place for yourself on the team.
KT
so close
Anonymous
Dang!
Anonymous
Shucks, Detwiler was on the ropes.
Jon Weisman
Van Slyke hit that ball as hard as any line drive I’ve seen by the Dodgers this season, but Zimmerman snags it.
KT
I was going to give you a vote up for the SVS part then I thought about the Zimmerman part and was going to give you a vote down….so I ended up doing nothing
KT
detwiler now at 57 pitches
Anonymous
Suzuki has the only HBP from Greinke on the Nats roster.
KT
LOL
Anonymous
#WINCOMMITTEE
At least for us lol.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Greinke is looking real good. It bums me out to think about how the last month could have been with him in the rotation.
Anonymous
Hats off to Greinke.
KT
81 pitches through 5…I sure hope he doesn’t have a 90 pitch count…we sure could use him another couple of innings
Anonymous
Sure hope he does…have a 90 pitch count.
Jeffrey Thomas III
I’m sure they’ll ask how he’s feeling. I imagine he gets at least one more inning.
Anonymous
Smooth, Uribear.
KT
STANDING O
Jeffrey Thomas III
Would like to see him finish the inning but completely understand the move. Couldn’t have asked for much more from him tonight. Welcome back Zack.
KT
Whew
KT
Dre!
KT
Let’s go Scott
Anonymous
the ump seemed like he was shushing Paco.
KT
should have left him in Don
Anonymous
Paco should have taken care of Span.
KT
you and Don are pretty hard on Paco…Seems like Don has him on a short leash
KT
Ok 6 outs to go…Come on Kenley
KT
Let’s turn two here
Anonymous
Lets get the K, Kenley.
KT
didn’t set up well for that catch but the results were still good
Anonymous
Nice job.
KT
YESSS!!!
Anonymous
Phew! Still one more (big) hurdle to pass with League.
KT
hopefully he got the message and does better
Anonymous
It appears that it will be League vs. the bottom of Washington’s order in the top of the 9th. We could certainly use at least one insurance run.
KT
Time for some insurance runs
KT
Come on Matty
KT
Nice Matty…come on Gonzo
KT
Good eye Gonzo…Come on Aj
Anonymous
Surely we are due to score a few
KT
let’s hope so
KT
Great job AJ…now drive them in Dre
KT
Make them pay Carl
KT
Carl!
KT
Lets go Tim…need another one
Anonymous
I am not going to watch this. Night all.
KT
night…look for one in the win column tomorrow
Anonymous
Wise choice. GN.
KT
Let’s go Brandon…shut them
Anonymous
Among non-pitchers, these were our choices on the bench to pinch hit for Jansen: Cruz (.087), Federowicz (.083–now .077) and Hernandez (.045). Granted, the latter two have had limited at bats, but still.
KT
but fed was tearing up AAA before being called up..I know ALB
KT
Come on DP
Jeffrey Thomas III
Please don’t let Harper beat us. Please don’t let Harper beat us. Please don’t let Harper beat us.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Phew.
KT
2 down…Come on Brandon
KT
Ball Game…Good job by Zack tonight…we are getting there guys
Anonymous
Win!
KT
Night all
Anonymous
That insurance run in the bottom of the 8th made the top of the 9th much easier. Four wins in our last five games.
Anonymous
Nice! We looked like a ball club.
Jon Weisman
NPUT