Dodger Stadium was the site of a fantastic pitching duel on Wednesday as the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw and the Yankees' Hiroki Kuroda each delivered scoreless performances. Ultimately the Dodgers lost 3-0 with a controversial and messy ninth inning.
Kershaw pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up five hits and no walks with five strikeouts. He was pulled at 97 pitches, but it appeared he would come out for the ninth inning since he was left in to bunt in the bottom of the eighth.
As he left the game, he ended his month of July with 47 innings pitched with 43 strikeouts, seven runs and two walks allowed. In his last 25 innings, he has not given up a walk, and his MLB-leading ERA has dropped down to 1.87.
It is just phenomenal what he brings to the mound with each outing.
Kershaw's dominance was matched by opposing pitcher and ex-Dodger, Kuroda. He tossed seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Ronald Belisario came in as Kershaw's relief in the top of the ninth, put two runners on, and with two outs was pulled for Paco Rodriguez. The inning appeared to be over with Lyle Overbay striking out on two consecutive check-swings, but on the second check-swing, umpire CB Bucknor called the pitch a ball, and said he did not go around. Overbay then hit a single to center field for the game-winning RBI.
Don Mattingly was ejected for arguing over the check-swings, and after the game shared his thoughts on the call.
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"I figure he (Bucknor) either missed one (call) or he missed two because they were both the same swing." Mattingly said. "We really played well enough to be, honestly, still playing, but really we are out of that inning."
To add onto an already frustrating ninth inning, Mark Ellis and Yasiel Puig got tangled up on a routine pop-fly to right field, letting the ball fall to the ground for two more runs.
Mariano Rivera came in for the save and easily disposed of the Dodgers on 12 pitches, giving the Yankees a 3-0 win. The loss was only their sixth in July, and their lead over the Diamondbacks shrunk to 2.5 games.
The Dodgers head to Chicago for a four-game series with the 49-58 Cubs. Ricky Nolasco will be starting Thursday against Chris Rusin after getting an extended rest period of seven days.
Tweets From #Dodgers Nation
Fantastic tribute to Mariano Rivera at #Dodgers game. — Marian McGinn (@dodgerdame) August 1, 2013
Seriously, it doesn't get any better than a Kershaw start, folks.
Attention Clayton Kershaw pitches tonight, so sit back & enjoy greatness! Let's Go #Dodgers — SuperMan24Danny (@DanielNba24) August 1, 2013
Kershaw V Kuroda was just as good, if not better, than advertised
Both pitchers are dealing in this game. #Dodgers #Yankees — Papa Joel (@ksujoel) August 1, 2013
I love pitching duels ☺ #dodgers #yankees #kershaw #kuroda — Alba (@Albabt2) August 1, 2013
Dodger fan got upset about the whole Puig/Ellis mishap in the ninth, that's for sure
Are you kidding me #Dodgers? — Lessa Martinez (@lessismoreeee) August 1, 2013
It's Puig's fault we lost tonight!!! UUUUUGH!!!!!! #dodgers �� — Kobe Kemp (@_TaMeshaJ_) August 1, 2013
Selfish play by Puig. It's about the TEAM. #dodgers — Flint Tropics (@twchevalier) August 1, 2013
Mark Ellis didn't hear Yasiel call him off because it was in Puig Latin #Dodgers #BeatLA — C o d y (@news2dayohboy) August 1, 2013
