Bullpen Blows Another Kershaw Gem, But Dodgers Win

The bullpen blew another great start from Kershaw, but the Dodgers won in extras

Clayton Kershaw threw another gem on Saturday, lasting seven innings and giving up just one run with eight strikeouts in the Dodgers extra innings 5-3 extra inning win.

He got roughed up in the first inning roughed, giving up a double and two walks. With bases loaded and one out Russell Martin hit a ground ball to shortstop for an easy double play ball.

Ramirez got the out at second on his own, but air-mailed the throw to first base allowing a run to score. Because he got the first out he was not charged with an error, crediting the run to Kershaw.

But, if we are going to point fingers at Ramirez for his terrible throw, lets give credit to Skip Schumaker who robbed Russell Martin of a three-run homer in the sixth with a great catch over the wall.

Kershaw has not gotten a win since May 20th despite lasting seven innings in four of five starts, and allowing just one run in his last two outings.

The Pirates sent out Brandon Cumpton to make his major league debut against the Dodgers on Saturday.

Cumpton was dominant early in the game, but lost his stuff as the game progressed. He struck out the side in his first career inning against Skip Schumaker, Yasiel Puig, and Adrian Gonzalez.

The Dodgers got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Skip Schumaker singled to right field scoring A.J. Ellis scored from second to tie the game.

In the sixth, Adrian Gonzalez doubled, Hanley Ramirez singled, and Andre Ethier singled in a run to end Cumpton's outing. Mark Ellis hit a sacrifice fly that scored Ramirez, the run was charged to Cumpton.

In the eighth, Chris Withrow let two runners on and struck out two before being removed for Paco Rodriguez. Rodriguez got out of the inning, but not before allowing an inherited runner to score.

Kenley Jansen, the newly-crowned closer, gave up a home run in the ninth to tie the game at 3-3, blowing the save. Jansen had not given up a run in his previous 11 appearances, but right now with the closer-controversy that home run looks really bad.

Jansen is still the best option at closer, but that will not prevent an ongoing argument over who should be closing out games for the Dodgers.

The Pirates bullpen retired 13 Dodger batters in a row before Andre Ethier doubled to right-center in the eleventh inning.

Mark Ellis bunted him over to third base and Juan Uribe hit a chopper to left field to bring him home making it 4-3. Nick Punto, pinch hitting, brought in the insurance run with a double to deep left-center to score Uribe from second.

So the Dodgers had a 5-3 lead as Brandon League came in for the save in the eleventh. Interesting that Kenley Jansen, who took the closer job from League blew the lead in the ninth, while League managed to hold onto a two-run lead in the eleventh for the save.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak, but the Dodgers have still lost six of their last eight games. Zach Greinke will pitch on Sunday for the Dodgers as they look to take five of six in the season series against Pittsburgh.

Contact Us