For more than a decade, the Dodgers have leaned on Clayton Kershaw when they needed a strong start. More often than not, the future Hall of Famer has delivered. Tuesday was one of the rare times when Kershaw fell short.
Kershaw struggled in the Dodgers’ 7-1 loss in Game 1 of Tuesday’s split doubleheader against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, allowing four runs in the first inning. Because he needed a career-high 39 first-inning pitches, his outing ended after just one frame for the first time in his career. His previous low in innings for a start was 1 1/3 on May 4, 2010 against the Brewers.
It was just the second time in Kershaw’s career that he allowed four or more runs in the first inning. The other was on Aug. 28, 2008, against the Nationals. Kershaw and manager Dave Roberts had a lengthy conversation after the first inning, but the Dodgers went with right-hander Dennis Santana in the second.
The outing began with a three-pitch strikeout against Willson Contreras, but that’s about where the positives ended for Kershaw. Kris Bryant laced a double down the left-field line and was later brought home by Anthony Rizzo’s RBI single. Kershaw recorded seven swings and misses, but the left-hander wasn’t consistent enough in the strike zone. He came into Tuesday’s start with five walks on the season, but handed out two free passes in the loss.
Kershaw also did not get any help from his defense, as Corey Seager couldn’t field a Matt Duffy grounder in the hole. If Seager made the play, the Dodgers had a chance to turn an inning-ending double play and limit the damage to one run. Instead, Duffy singled and David Bote followed with a bases-clearing double.
With Dustin May out for the season and Tony Gonsolin and David Price still on the injured list, the Dodgers are shorthanded with their rotation and will rely on the top four starters to provide valuable innings over the next couple of weeks. Kershaw was unable to provide length in Game 1, and the Dodgers had to burn Jimmy Nelson, Alex Vesia and Santana out of the bullpen. L.A. will turn to Trevor Bauer in Game 2 to try and save the rest of the ‘pen for Wednesday’s series finale.
