Muncy: 'We all wanted Kershaw to stay' in game longer

After getting two quick outs to start the sixth inning, Clayton Kershaw looked dialed in for a dominant postseason outing. However, Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts made the unpopular decision to take the ball from the club's ace after 5 2/3 innings.

"I think we all wanted Kersh to stay in there," Max Muncy said postgame, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. "But they had a plan and they executed it."

Kershaw retired Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe on just two pitches before Roberts came out of the dugout to summon Dustin May to face the right-handed-hitting Manuel Margot.

May struck out Margot and then worked another 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing one hit while striking out one more.

"Before that sixth inning I talked to him and just kind of gauged where he was at and we agreed on two hitters," Roberts said. "And I think that he didn't have much left in the tank. We wanted to get through Lowe right there and so, yeah, it was two pitches, but I didn't want to do the bait-and-switch."

Third baseman Justin Turner was among those who were openly upset with the decision to remove Kershaw.

"I did have my mind made up, I had real clarity," Roberts added. "Obviously the players believe in each other and I love that. But I still felt we had a good option with Dustin."

May, Victor Gonzalez, and Blake Treinen combined to shut out the Rays over the final three innings, allowing a total of two hits and one walk while striking out four.