Dodgers fans would be best served forgetting about Game 1 of the 2023 NLDS. With high hopes and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer on the mound, the Dodgers proceeded to get boat raced by the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-2. Kershaw’s final line on the evening is an appalling 0.1 IP / 6 H / 6 ER / 1 HR / 1 BB / 0 SO.
Dave Roberts had this to say postgame about the club’s ace,
“It was a tough one. I think that obviously they took a lot of good swings. It seemed like they were on everything he threw up there. There was, I think — the Pham ball was down below and he scooped it, but outside of that I think balls were just up and good pitches for them to hit. They didn’t miss them.
“Usually Clayton does a great job of controlling, managing damage. And tonight unfortunately we didn’t do that.”
Dave Roberts following 11-2 Game 1 loss.
The night started with a Ketel Marte 115 mph rocket off Kershaw that bounced in and out of rookie centerfielder James Outman’s glove. From there the Diamondbacks scored 5 runs off the Dodgers’ starter before he managed to record an out. At a glance it looked like a play Outman should have made for the first out of the inning, but it had an xBA of .830 to Outman’s credit. Kershaw also made no excuses about the play after the game,
“There’s no excuses. Regardless of anything that happened out there, I have to be better. That’s just not acceptable.”
Clayton Kershaw on the Outman misplay potentially changing the inning.
Beyond the accolades, the victories, and the moments, an unsung virtue of Clayton Kershaw is his ability to always say the right thing. He gives credit to his teammates during the victories and takes the blame when things don’t go the club’s way, and tonight proved no exception
“Disappointing. Embarrassing. You feel like you let everyone down. The whole organization looks to you to pitch well in Game 1 and yeah… it’s just embarrassing, really. It’s a tough way to start the postseason. Obviously we still have a chance at this thing but that wasn’t the way it should have started for me.”
Kershaw on his thought about tonight’s outing
The silver lining from tonight’s drubbing is that the Dodgers are only down 0-1. They look to even the series up Monday night with their electric rookie Bobby Miller on the mound against projected Cy Young finalist Zac Gallen.
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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