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Dodgers Wilt Under Postseason Pressure, Fall to Mets 3-1 in Game 1 of NLDS

Jacob DeGrom outdueled Clayton Kershaw in one of the best pitching matchups in postseason history and the Los Angeles Dodgers wilted under the pressure, falling to the New York Mets 3-1 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday night at D

In nine career postseason starts, Clayton Kershaw has one win. In one career postseason start, Jacob DeGrom, has one win. That is all you need to know.

DeGrom outdueled Kershaw in one of the best pitching matchups in postseason history and the Los Angeles Dodgers wilted under the pressure, falling to the New York Mets 3-1 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

"I got outpitched, that's the moral of the story," Kershaw said after the game. "Jacob pitched an amazing game, but he outpitched me, plain and simple."

For those in attendance in Game 1 of the 2014 NLDS, it felt like déjà vu all over again.

For six innings, Kershaw looked like his dominant MVP self, only to run out of gas in the seventh and send Dodger fans home with that painfully familiar feeling of a postseason loss.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh, Kershaw walked three batters to load the bases with two outs. It was the first time Kershaw had walked three in one inning since April 23, 2013, and it would be the last batter he'd face in the game.

"In that 7th inning, you obviously can't walk that many guys,"Kershaw said. "I put myself in that situation, so there's not a lot of arguing you can do at that point."

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly opted to pull Kershaw and brought in Pedro Baez to try and blow heat by Mets third baseman David Wright.

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For many in Los Angeles, we had seen this story before.

In 2014, with the Dodgers down a run, Mattingly pulled Kershaw in the seventh to give way to Baez who promptly walked a batter before allowing a three-run homer to Matt Holliday.

Needless to say, the results were disastrous again.

Baez gave up a two-run single to Wright who gave the Mets a 3-0 lead, sending the Dodgers to a stinging defeat in Game 1 of a best-of-five series.

Kershaw was strong, allowing three runs on just four hits in 6.2 innings. By the end of the fifth inning, Kershaw had totaled 11 strikeouts, just one shy of his postseason high of 12.

But DeGrom was better, striking out 13 batters in seven shutout innings. He outlasted Kershaw allowing just five scattered hits throughout the game.

"I know what he's doing, but my game plan stays the same," DeGrom said of the battle with Kershaw. "Go put up zeros and keep us in a position to win."

For the first seven innings, it was a classic postseason pitching duel as both starting pitchers struck out at least 11 batters for the first time in MLB Playoff history.

Yet, Kershaw wilted under the heat of the 90-degree October sun and suffered another tragic postseason loss, his fifth consecutive, dropping him to 1-6 in his playoff career.

Daniel Murphy hit a 94MPH fastball off Kershaw into the Mets bullpen in the fourth inning to give New York an early 1-0 lead.

"My first at-bat he chewed me up and spit me out," Murphy said of Kershaw. "He doesn't make a lot of mistakes and I was really fortunate to put a good swing on the ball he threw me on my second at-bat."

The Dodgers got some help in the early innings as left fielder Michael Cuddyer misplayed not one, but two fly balls that lead to doubles. However, LA stranded both runners, unable to get any big hits off DeGrom.

The Dodgers would finally scratch a run across in the eighth inning, after DeGrom had left the game. Howie Kendrick doubled off reliever Tyler Clippard and scored on an Adrian Gonzalez single to left field.

Mets manager Terry Collins immediately went to the bullpen, calling for Jeurys Familia for a four-out save. Familia retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth to earn his first career postseason save.

The Mets were playing in their first postseason game since 2006 when they swept the Dodgers in three games. They improved to 3-1 all time in Game 1 of an NLDS, with two of those wins coming against Los Angeles.


Game Notes:
A.J. Ellis went 1-for-3 and extended his postseason hitting streak to a Dodgers franchise record 11 games.

Daniel Murphy joined Carlos Delgado and Edgardo Alfonzo as the only Mets to have homered in their postseason debut.

Since current Wild Card format, team who wins the first game is 11-1 since the Wild Card Game was introduced in 2012.

The Dodgers and Mets combined for 27 strikeouts, one shy of the all-time postseason record.
 

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