Kershaw recovers as Dodgers take 3-2 series lead
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw bounced back from one of his worst postseason starts with one of his best, pitching the Dodgers past the Brewers 5-2 to move one win from a return trip to the World Series.
The Dodgers took a 3-2 lead in the National League Championship Series, boosted by Max Muncy’s go-ahead single in the sixth inning. Kershaw held the lead, scoring an insurance run in the seventh and then exiting.
“To go back to Milwaukee up 3-2 as opposed to being down 3-2 is huge for us,” Kershaw said. “It’s been a battle every single game we’ve played them so far, and we don’t expect anything different when we go back.”
Game 6 is Friday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers will start left-hander Wade Miley, who walked Cody Bellinger to open Game 5 before getting pulled in an interesting piece of strategy by manager Craig Counsell. Lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu will go for the Dodgers.
Kershaw was well-rested and masterful in allowing one run and three hits in seven innings. He struck out nine, all on breaking pitches, and walked two.
Kershaw, who lasted just three innings in losing the opener, pitched in and out of trouble in the third, when the Brewers loaded the bases and scored their lone run. Kershaw struck out Jesus Aguilar to end the third, the first of 13 consecutive batters that the left-hander retired.
Curtis Granderson hit an RBI double in the ninth. Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ third pitcher of the ninth, came in for the last two outs and the save.