Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers Lose to Pirates 4-3

Clayton Kershaw struggled in the second inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, on Sunday for their third straight victory over the Boys in Blue. 

The Pirates scored four runs off the three-time Cy Young Award winner in the second inning and the Dodgers were unable to complete the comeback off rookie starter, Chad Kuhl, who won his Major League debut against one of the greatest pitchers of this generation.

Pittsburgh took advantage of a less-than-stellar Kershaw in the second inning when they recorded back-to-back singles before the 2014 MVP issued a walk—yes, a rare free pass—and Adam Frazier put the Pirates on the board with an RBI single to left field. One batter later, David Freese hit a bases-clearing double to the gap in right-center and the Bucs had a 4-0 lead.

The four-run inning was just the second such inning Kershaw has allowed all season after he surrendered five runs against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in April.

"I wish I had an excuse for you," Kershaw told MLB.com after the game. "I just didn't pitch well enough to win tonight."

Justin Turner continued to wield a hot bat as he hit a two-run homer in the third inning to cut the lead in half, and an RBI double off the wall in the fifth inning to bring the boys in blue within one. It was the second game in a week that Turner knocked in all of the Dodgers' runs in a game.

Kershaw (11-2) settled in after the four-run second inning, but the damage was already done. The left-hander allowed four runs on nine total hits with two walks (one intentional) and four strikeouts in six innings.

His counterpart, Kuhl (1-0), won his first-ever MLB start allowing three runs on four hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Kuhl's first career victory will be one he'll never forget as he defeated his idol in Kershaw.

Pittsburgh's pen shut down the Dodgers in order over the next four innings, as three relievers retired the game's final 12 batters they faced. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his 22^nd save of the season.

Players of the Game:

Justin Turner: 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
David Freese: Three-run double.

Three Takeaways: 

1. Kuhl as a Cucumber: Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Chad Kuhl was not afraid of the moment on Sunday. For one, the 23-year-old was making his MLB debut, which is enough to make anyone nervous. Two, his debut was coming on national television for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Three, he was going against baseball's best pitcher in Clayton Kershaw. Not only did he hold his own against the three-time Cy Young Award winner, he beat him. The crowd showed their appreciation by giving Kuhl as standing ovation later in the game.

Chad Kuhl joined Archie Bradley as only pitchers to get win vs Clayton Kershaw in their MLB debut

via @eliassports — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 27, 2016

2. Still Hot: Justin Turner continued his torrid month of June as he once again drove in all the runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday with a two-run home run and an RBI double. Turner has eight homers and 21 RBI in the month of June.

Matty V, @markdero7 & @mikelowell25 check in w/ @Dodgers 3B @redturn2...and @Adrian_ElTitan. https://t.co/1rDNWBRDk2 pic.twitter.com/zjjzHU2wis — MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 28, 2016

3. The Kershaw Stopper? Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart went 2-for-3 off Kershaw and is now 9-for-17 in his career against the game's most elite pitcher. Stewart's nine career hits against the former MVP are the most against any pitcher in baseball.

.@Pirates catcher Chris Stewart's 9 hits in 17 AB vs. Clayton Kershaw are the most he has against any pitcher. pic.twitter.com/UInACJzXJu — MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) June 27, 2016

Up Next:

Dodgers (41-36): Scott Kazmir starts against the Pirates for the first time in eight years as LA looks to avoid the sweep on Monday.

Pirates (37-39): Francisco Liriano looks to lead Pittsburgh to the four-game sweep in the series finale at 9:35 AM PST.