The Los Angeles Dodgers would tend to agree after the first two games of a three-game series that ends Thursday. “He didn’t have his best stuff”.
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Kershaw will start in the series finale at Atlanta, on getaway day. “It was a grind, for sure”.
The Dodgers tacked on an insurance run on a single by Yasmani Grandal against Alexi Ogando, who relieved Grilli with the bases loaded. He went 2 for 3 with a double against Kershaw last season.
Teheran gave up five runs in 7 1/3 innings of a 2014 start against the Dodgers in Atlanta, and last season he gave up six hits, three runs and three walks with 11 strikeouts in six innings of a July home loss against them.
Both teams scored in the first.
The stubbornness was on full display Thursday in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. Matt Wisler takes the hill, and he’s 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA and 10 strikeouts this season. This was a bit of a hiccup, marking only the fourth time in 246 career starts that he’s given up double-figure hits, though he did strike out 10.
He even unleashed a blooper pitch to Tyler Flowers in the fourth, the looper clocked at a mere 46 miles per hour.
“Kind of lobbed it up there”, Kershaw said.
For as good as Kershaw (2-0, 1.64 ERA) has been, winning his first three decisions has been elusive, though it’s probably not a major point of concern for the superstar. Leave one up. It’s just in between right now. He’s struck out 20 and walked two over 22 innings.
He walked one. Though his fastball was typically steady, Kershaw said he could not rely on his secondary pitches as much as he wanted. Overall, Atlanta left 14 men on base in the game.
“I knew I had to come in and pitch well today and help the guys stay in the game”, Wisler said.
“My first time to be thrown out at the plate I think”, Kershaw said. Seager reached on a throwing error by third baseman Adonis Garcia. He hit a single in the top of the tenth inning and stole second base soon afterwards.
Atlanta quickly tied it up in the bottom half. Erick Aybar led off with a double down the left-field line, and Daniel Castro followed with another double to center field, the ball just out of reach of a lunging Pederson. Castro was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play. That call also was upheld on review.
While making a Friday morning appearance on MLB Network radio, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had some strong words about the quality of Turner Field, the Braves’ longtime home stadium.
NOTES: Los Angeles RHP Pedro Baez was not available for the game after being hit by a thrown ball in the back of the head.
Padilla’s source suggested Turner Field’s crew isn’t taking as good of care of the infield as it could since the team is moving to a new stadium next season.
Of course, the field wasn’t to blame for Garcia’s wild throw and an outfield collision between Smith and Jeff Francoeur.
The winning pitcher was rookie Ryan Weber, who was recalled from the minor leagues Monday.
Teammate Nick Markakis went 8 for 20 during a five-game hitting streak that ended with an 0 for 3 performance Wednesday.
“This is a tough infield”, Roberts said. He has a 5.64 ERA and 1.39 WHIP after four starts.
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The eight earned runs ties Price’s career worst in a start. Castro made the fill-in start. He took the loss in his only appearance against the Mets last season and hasn’t beaten NY since August 9, 2010, while with the Astros.
