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| Photo: Instagram/Clayton Kershaw |
Clayton Kershaw, a stalwart of the Dodgers for over a decade, had been their reliable ace throughout his illustrious career.
However, in Game 1 of the NLDS against the D-backs, he endured a nightmarish outing that left fans and teammates stunned. The left-hander's performance was a far cry from his usual excellence, as he surrendered six runs and couldn't even record a single out, a historic low for postseason pitchers.
Kershaw's disappointment and embarrassment were palpable as he acknowledged letting down not just his team but the entire organization. Despite earlier reports of improved health, it was evident from the outset that Kershaw lacked his typical pitching prowess.
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| Photo: Instagram/Clayton Kershaw |
His signature slider lacked depth, the curveball was flat, and his four-seam fastball lacked velocity. This combination proved disastrous as the D-backs capitalized on his mistakes.
Ketel Marte started the onslaught with a liner that eluded outfielder James Outman, leading to an RBI single by Corbin Carroll and hits by Tommy Pham and Christian Walker. Gabriel Moreno delivered the crushing blow with a three-run homer. Evan Longoria's RBI double was the final straw, prompting manager Dave Roberts to pull Kershaw after just 35 pitches.
This performance was a stark departure from Kershaw's storied postseason history, marking his shortest start ever. Nevertheless, he attributed it to poor execution rather than physical issues.
Roberts expressed confidence in Kershaw's return for Game 4. Despite the deflated atmosphere, the Dodgers' offense couldn't rally against Merrill Kelly.
The team's resilience in the face of adversity, a hallmark of their season, was conspicuously absent. To make matters worse, the Dodgers joined a short list of teams to lose Game 1 of a postseason series by a wide margin, with the odds stacked against them.
In the face of this unexpected setback, the Dodgers must regroup quickly and find their winning form in Game 2, or else they risk an early exit from the playoffs. The hope within the organization and among fans remains that Clayton Kershaw will bounce back when he takes the mound again.
Read Next: Yordan Alvarez's Heroics Propel Astros To Victory In ALDS Opener
Source: MLB
Ketel Marte started the onslaught with a liner that eluded outfielder James Outman, leading to an RBI single by Corbin Carroll and hits by Tommy Pham and Christian Walker. Gabriel Moreno delivered the crushing blow with a three-run homer. Evan Longoria's RBI double was the final straw, prompting manager Dave Roberts to pull Kershaw after just 35 pitches.
This performance was a stark departure from Kershaw's storied postseason history, marking his shortest start ever. Nevertheless, he attributed it to poor execution rather than physical issues.
Roberts expressed confidence in Kershaw's return for Game 4. Despite the deflated atmosphere, the Dodgers' offense couldn't rally against Merrill Kelly.
The team's resilience in the face of adversity, a hallmark of their season, was conspicuously absent. To make matters worse, the Dodgers joined a short list of teams to lose Game 1 of a postseason series by a wide margin, with the odds stacked against them.
In the face of this unexpected setback, the Dodgers must regroup quickly and find their winning form in Game 2, or else they risk an early exit from the playoffs. The hope within the organization and among fans remains that Clayton Kershaw will bounce back when he takes the mound again.
Read Next: Yordan Alvarez's Heroics Propel Astros To Victory In ALDS Opener
Source: MLB
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