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By Jon Weisman
I guess you could be bothered that Clayton Kershaw allowed two home runs tonight and lasted but six innings.
Or, you can be pleased that Clayton Kershaw allowed one earned run on seven baserunners in six innings and struck out 12.
I can’t really tell you what to do. I can only tell you what I’d recommend.
After leaving for a pinch-hitter with the Dodgers leading 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Kershaw has an ERA with the uncharacteristic swell of 4.42, but he held the No. 3 offense in the National League so far this year almost entirely at bay.
Striking out six of the first 10 batters he faced over three innings, while the Dodgers built a 3-0 lead, Kershaw next allowed a home run to top Colorado hitter Troy Tulowitzki. He then sandwiched a wild pitch between two singles, benefiting from Andre Ethier throwing out Corey Dickerson at the plate — giving the Dodgers an assist from each outfield position this week.
The defense had the opposite effect on Kershaw in the next inning (which began with the Dodgers ahead, 4-1), when Adrian Gonzalez’s error allowed Drew Stubbs to reach first leading off the fifth. Kershaw then struck out the next two batters, but on the ninth pitch of the next at-bat, Charlie Blackmon homered to right.
Two more Rockies reached base in the sixth inning before Kershaw put a stop to their mischief, striking out Dickerson and Stubbs.
So it was a peccable evening, but not alarming. He allowed two homers, but that’s happened eight previous times during his run of Cy Youngs since 2011. Meanwhile, Kershaw has 26 strikeouts in his first 18 1/3 innings this year.
He has allowed 22 hits this year, but that’s with opponents batting .413 on balls in play against him. Something tells me he’s not going to remain that unlucky.
So I say be pleased.
Mark Hagerstrom
We expect so much from him, but I am happy. Evaluated by game score, he had a 63. His career average is 61 (as is that for Pedro).
oldbrooklynfan
That was a marvelous pitching performance but not if it’s Kershaw doing the pitching. I guess it’s me, his greatness has spoiled me and I can only relax when he’s a little closer to perfection than he was last night. I think I feel the same way about him as he does himself.
jpavko
I was impressed as all get out by Cy 4 last night. In a game where he didn’t have his best stuff late, he managed to gut out 7 innings. If any viewer could have seen the fast balls he blew by hitters before he left the game, the fans should be impressed with the man’s performance. He pitched the Dodgers to a win, right? After all, even as Clayon says, that’s what’s important