Recap: Clayton Kershaw Strikes Out 10, Dodgers Have 6-Run Inning
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves Monday in the first meeting of the year between the two teams. They were back in action Tuesday, as Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took the mound amid rumors of Juan Uribe being traded to the Braves. He was opposed by the Braves’ version of an ace, young right-hander Juilo Teheran.
Kershaw started off the game strong, retiring the side in order and striking out two in the first inning. Jimmy Rollins reached on an infield single, but was erased on a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play to end a scoreless first inning.
The Braves went down in order again in the top of the second, as Kershaw added another strikeout to his total, putting him at three through his first two innings. The Dodgers also went down in order in the bottom half, as Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier grounded out and Justin Turner flied out.
The first hit of the game came in the bottom of the third when Alex Guerrero doubled down the left field line. He wasn’t on the basepaths long though, as Teheran picked him off second base. After A.J. Ellis walked, Kershaw attempted to bunt him to second, but ended up bunting into an inning-ending double play.
Kershaw continued to cruise in the top of the fourth, as the Braves top of the order failed to again get a hit or put anyone on base. The Dodgers bats finally came alive in the bottom of the fourth.
Joc Pederson led off with a single that skipped off Andrelton Simmons’ glove. Then with one out, Howie Kendrick hit an RBI double to left-center, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. After Gonzalez was intentionally walked, Turner hit a single to right field, scoring Kendrick.
Ethier followed with a bases-clearing double down the right field line and the Dodgers’ lead grew to 4-0. With Ethier and Guerrero on base, Elli doubled down the line scoring Ethier, but Guerrero was thrown out at home. Kershaw got in on the action as he finished off the scoring with an RBI single, and the Dodgers led 6-0 after four innings.
CONTINUE READING: Kershaw Makes Bid For No-Hitter
