Friedman wowed by resilient Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw, the indomitable left-hander who didn't allow a run over seven innings in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, wasn't at his best Saturday. Making his fifth appearance, and fourth start, in a 15-day span, the three-time Cy Young award winner coughed up five runs in five shaky innings against the Chicago Cubs, his command eluding him as his team tried to stave off elimination.

When all was said and done, Kershaw, already dogged by a reputation of choking in the postseason, took the loss in a listless 5-0 defeat at Wrigley Field that sent the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series in more than seven decades.

Andrew Friedman, the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations, was blown away nevertheless.

"I cannot say enough about what Clayton did," Friedman told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. "Most guys would not have come back at all from what he suffered. But it wasn't even a question in his mind."

Just as Kershaw had no doubt as to whether he'd be able to come back from the herniated disc that sidelined him for 75 days this summer - limiting him to his fewest innings (149) since his 2008 rookie season - he also refused to blame his lackluster performance on his back.

"It's tough to talk about and not sound like you're making excuses," he said. "I felt good tonight. I just got beat."

Kershaw did get beat, and navigated an uncharacteristically ugly outing - his game score of 39 is his lowest in a postseason start since Game 1 of the 2014 NLDS - but Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt couldn't help marveling at his resilience, either.

"Being down then coming back, getting re-started - it was a major accomplishment I think in itself, just for him to help us down the stretch and get us to this point in time of the season," Honeycutt said. "Who can say (why he didn't pitch well in Game 6)? Everybody behind you can whatever. The fact of the matter is - he's our best and just got to take what it is."