Kershaw dazzles on short rest to force Game 5
Four days after starting the series opener, Clayton Kershaw better resembled a pitcher throwing on three weeks' rest in Tuesday's NLDS Game 4.
With his team's season on the line, Kershaw delivered one of the best playoff performances of his career, scattering three hits over seven one-run innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers avoid elimination with a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets.
Top Performer: Pitching on three days' rest, Kershaw put his postseason struggles behind him in the biggest game of the year. The big lefty held the Mets hitless for three innings, recorded six straight outs by strikeouts during the fourth and fifth, and allowed just one baserunner into scoring position when he gave up a solo homer to Daniel Murphy.
Starting Pitchers: Kershaw's night ended after 94 pitches when manager Don Mattingly lifted him for right-hander Chris Hatcher, who combined with closer Kenley Jansen to nail down the final four outs. Mets rookie Steven Matz pitched solidly over five frames in his first start in nearly three weeks. However, the Dodgers' three-run third - which included an Adrian Gonzalez RBI single and a two-run double by Justin Turner - proved to be the difference in the tightly contested game.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw | 7.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Matz | 5.0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Turning Point: In a game that lacked dramatic moments - save for a mini Mets rally in the eighth - the turning point was Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young winner and reigning MVP, silencing his postseason critics. Perhaps no inning best exemplified the forced narrative than the seventh, when Kershaw shook off a leadoff single by Yoenis Cespedes and retired the next three batters to end his impressive outing. Entering his final frame, Kershaw had allowed 11 earned runs in the seventh inning of his last three playoff starts.
Up Next: The Dodgers and Mets will battle to play the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS when the two teams meet back in Los Angeles for Game 5 on Thursday. Right-handers Zack Greinke and Jacob deGrom square off in the winner-take-all. First pitch from Dodger Stadium is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET.