by Mark Langill
Clayton Kershaw got through with guile for five innings and had a chance at achieving his 213th career victory.
Overcoming a sluggish start during a 26-pitch first inning, Kershaw’s five innings ended up being one of the more positive signs in Wednesday’s 7–4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
The Dodgers were nine outs away from completing a sweep of Cleveland before giving up six runs in the final two innings.
Ultimately the bullpen couldn’t hold a 4–1 lead, ending the road trip on a frustrating note heading into a weekend home showdown and World Series rematch against the New York Yankees.
“It’s a sour feeling in the sense of you catch a lead and you feel good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And I thought we did enough to win the game. But unfortunately, that game got away from us.”
The key blow in the five-run eighth inning was Angel Martínez’s three-run home run off lefty Alex Vesia, who inherited two runners from pitcher Tanner Scott.
The Dodgers have allowed 69 home runs this season, the second-highest total in the National League behind Arizona (71).
Kershaw struck out three, raising his career total to 2,974 in his chase to become the 20th member of the Major League’s 3,000 strikeout club.
Kershaw fell behind 1–0 in the first inning.
After leadoff hitter Steven Kwan hit a groundout to Kershaw, Martinez laced a double to left. José Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 21 games with an RBI single to left.
Ramirez tried to stretch the hit to a double, but he was thrown out by left fielder Andy Pages. That play was crucial because Kershaw issued consecutive walks to Carlos Santana and Gabriel Arias.
Kershaw escaped the jam by retiring Jhonkensy Noel on a lineout to center.
In the third inning, Ramírez ripped another single to left, but he didn’t test Pages’ arm.
“The first inning was pretty rough,” Kershaw said. “Andy’s throw was huge for me. I tried to limit the damage.
“I was making pitches here and there, but obviously I wasn’t pitching good enough to stay in the game, which, you know, makes the bullpen pitch more innings.”
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The 4–5–6 of the Dodger order was responsible for three of the runs. Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Pages each drove in a run.
Kiké Hernandez doubled and later scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh.
The Dodgers now head home to begin a seven-game homestand with postseason rematches first against the Yankees this weekend and four with the Mets beginning Monday.
Dodgers trip late walking the high wire was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.