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Kershaw addresses latest playoff meltdown: 'Just a terrible feeling'

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Of all the agonizing playoff outings for Clayton Kershaw, Wednesday's blown save in Game 5 against the Washington Nationals may stay with the three-time Cy Young winner the longest.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ace didn't shy away from questions after the game, though, as he instead owned up to his poor postseason performance.

"It's just a terrible feeling," Kershaw said, according to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times. "No excuses."

"Everything people say about the postseason is true right now," he added, according to Elliott. "It might linger for a while."

Kershaw was the first pitcher Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called on out of the bullpen to relieve Walker Buehler after the right-handed starter allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings, out-dueling Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg in the process.

After striking out Adam Eaton on three straight pitches to end the seventh, Kershaw gave up back-to-back home runs to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto as the Nationals tied the game 3-3 in the eighth.

"I'm not going to feel bad for myself," an emotional Kershaw said, according to Elliott. "I feel bad for the guys in there."

Fellow Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill also appeared to be fighting back tears while defending his teammate, saying the club "wouldn't be here without (Kershaw)," according to Michael J. Duarte of NBC Los Angeles.

Kershaw now possesses a 4.33 ERA over 158 1/3 postseason innings and is 0-3 in his last three starts dating back to last year's World Series opener.

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