Recap: Kershaw Strikes Out 12, Dodgers End Rockies Road Winning Streak
After an uncharacteristically bad start Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, all eyes were on Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw to bounce back, as the Dodgers welcomed the National West-leading Colorado Rockies to Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw began his day by striking out Charlie Blackmon looking. He then gave up a line-drive single to Troy Tulowitzki, but retired Nolan Arenado and Wilin Rosario to end the inning.
Jimmy Rollins led off the bottom of the first with a walk. After Rollins stole second, Adrian Gonzalez came up with one out and hit an RBI double to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead after a long at-bat. Howie Kendrick came up next and wasted no time, hitting a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw to make it 3-0 Dodgers.
Rockies batters had no chance against Kershaw in the second inning. First he struck out Nick Hundley and Corey Dickerson swinging, both on high fastballs, then Yasmani Grandal framed an outside fastball to the Drew Stubbs for called strike three.
Kershaw came to the plate in the bottom of the inning with two outs and hit a standup double down the first base line. The Dodgers wouldn’t capitalize however, as Rollins grounded to second.
The third inning went much like the second for Colorado batters, as Kershaw started by striking out pitcher Kyle Kendrick and DJ LeMahieu to give him five consecutive strikeouts. The Dodgers ace then retired Blackmon on a pop up.
Kyle Kendrick breezed through the bottom part of the third, retiring Carl Crawford, Gonzalez and Howie Kendrick in order. Tulowitzki returned to the plate in the top of the fourth and continued to have the upper hand on Kershaw, this time hitting a line drive solo home run that just went over the shortest part of the left field fence to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1.
Rosario hit a one-out single up the middle that nearly struck Kershaw and he later made it to second base on a wild pitch. Dickerson singled to right field and Rosario was thrown out at the plate by Andre Ethier.
CONTINUE READING: Kershaw Racks Up More Strikeouts, Dodgers Keep Scoring
