Editorials

Clayton Kershaw Sets New Season-High Strikeouts Total In Dodgers Win

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

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Kershaw continued with his string of collecting two strikeouts per inning, by fanning Harper and Robinson in the fourth. Fister hit Pederson with a pitch on the back of the rookie center fielder’s right leg, which led to a productive inning for the Dodgers.



Kendrick and Turner again hit consecutive singles, with the latter driving in a run. Additionally, Kendrick went to third base on Robinson’s fielding error, and Turner took second on the throw to home plate. After Gonzalez was intentionally walked to load the bases, Ethier was robbed of a likely extra-base hit and multiple RBIs by a Harper diving catch.

While the Nationals right fielder came up with the catch, Kendrick tagged to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0. Puig added an RBI single before Fister managed to get out of the inning. It was much of the same for Kershaw in the fifth as he bookended the shutdown inning with strikeouts, running his total to 10 at that point.

Taylor Jordan allowed a two-out hit to Pederson in the seventh, though noting came of it for the Dodgers. Espinosa grounded to Turner with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and was safe on a throwing error that also allowed him to take second base.

It only resulted in Kershaw adding to Harper’s frustration as he struck him out a third time in the game, while giving Kershaw six consecutive innings with two strikeouts. Gonzalez doubled in the seventh and Puig worked a walk, but Ellis was called out on strikes to end the inning.

After watching two teammates before him strikeout, Ian Desmond managed to make contact in the bottom of the seventh, only to fly out to left. Jimmy Rollins drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, but was thrown out on an ill-fated Kershaw sacrifice bunt attempt, which was about the only thing the left-hander did wrong on the afternoon.

Kershaw knocked down a comebacker with his right knee to then pick up the ball and record the first out in the bottom of the eighth. Dan Uggla pinch-hit and grounded out, which snapped Kershaw’s streak of seven consecutive with two strikeouts. Matt den Dekker also grounded out, ending the inning with the Dodgers still ahead 4-0.

Turner and Gonzalez got back-to-back singles with no outs in the ninth, giving both of them three hits on the day. Ethier grounded into what was initially ruled a 6-4-3 double play, but Dodgers manager Don Mattingly successfully challenged the out call at first base.

That left runners on the corners with one out for Puig, who struck out swinging. So did Ellis and the Dodgers lead remained stuck at 4-0. Kenley Jansen allowed a two-run homer to Harper in the ninth while also striking out the side in what finished as a Dodgers’ 4-2 win.

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Clayton Kershaw On Statement For All-Star Game

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