6 hits (1 home run) and 6 runs allowed in ⅓ innings, ERA 162.00.
This is the embarrassing report card of Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers), who becomes particularly weak in the fall, from his first appearance in the 2023 postseason.
Kershaw took the mound as a starting pitcher in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS, 3 wins out of 5) against the Arizona Diamondbacks held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 8th (Korean time), and pitched with only one out in the first inning. After validating, I went down the mound.
Kershaw, who was hit with a double by leadoff hitter Ketel Marte in the first inning, gave up singles to No. 2 hitter Corbin Carroll and No. 3 hitter Tommy Pham, respectively.
A double was allowed to 4th hitter Christian Walker, bringing the score to 2-0, and the crisis continued with no outs on 2nd and 3rd bases, and a 3-run home run to 5th hitter Gabriel Moreno allowed the 5th run.
According to MLB.com, this is the first case in the postseason where a starting pitcher gave up 5 runs without recording a single out.
After getting his first out by hitting Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a grounder, Kershaw walked Alec Thomas and hit an RBI double from Evan Longoria before leaving the mound.
Regarding Kershaw, whose shoulder condition was not good at the end of the season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expected him to be in “the best condition in months” ahead of the game.
However, MLB.com pointed out, “It was clear that he was not in the best condition. His slider was less curved and his curve was flat. His four-seam fastball, which had decreased velocity due to a shoulder injury, could not beat batters.”
Of Kershaw’s 35 pitches on this day, there were only 5 missed swings. There were 7 hard hits (exit speed over 95 mph).
Kershaw is a ‘living legend’ who has reserved entry into the MLB Hall of Fame.
He won the Cy Young Award three times, and in 2014, he won the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) despite being a pitcher.
As he enters his mid-30s, his performance is not as good as before due to major and minor injuries, but this year’s regular season was also 13 wins, 5 losses, and an average ERA of 2.46, helping the Dodgers win the district championship.
However, this year, Kershaw was unable to overcome the ‘fall jinx’ and suffered his 13th loss (13 wins) in fall baseball as the team lost 2-11.
With one game on this day, Kershaw’s postseason ERA soared from 4.22 to 4.49.
After the game, Coach Roberts reaffirmed his trust by saying, “Usually Kershaw has excellent control and crisis management skills, but he did not do so today,” and added, “If Game 4 of the NLDS is held, Kershaw will appear as the starting pitcher.”
Kershaw blamed himself for “disappointing everyone. I was hoping I would pitch well in Game 1, but something embarrassing happened. We had a rough start to the postseason.”스포츠토토
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman also expressed his bewilderment, saying, “No one in the baseball world would have expected this result.”