L.A. dodges hurdles for walk-off triumph
Kershaw hurt; Jansen finally falters
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are bracing for the worst after Clayton Kershaw’s latest back injury.
Manager Dave Roberts said the All-star ace was headed to the 10-day disabled list after Kershaw left 21 pitches into his start on Sunday because of right low back tightness.
“Just felt a little something in my back that wasn’t normal,” a subdued Kershaw said.
The National League West leaders overcame a rare blown save by Kenley Jansen to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Logan Forsythe’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and gain a split in the four-game series.
Roberts said Kershaw felt something on his last warmup pitch going into the second inning. Kershaw’s form didn’t look right from the dugout, so the team’s trainer came out to check on him.
Kershaw said he was going to see a doctor Sunday night and undergo scans.
“It’s a DL situation,” Roberts said. “It will take 10 days regardless.”
Also headed to the DL is starter Brandon Mccarthy, who has a blister.
Kershaw is unbeaten in 15 consecutive starts, and the team is 19-2 when he takes the mound.
Jansen entered with a 3-1 lead and got the final out of the eighth but gave up a three-run homer to Matt Adams in the ninth, tying the game at 4.
“He’s got that nasty cutter,” Adams said. “I was just telling myself to be on time and try to get the barrel out, not get jammed with it. I got a pitch I was able to do it with.”
Forsythe singled up the middle after Cody Bellinger was intentionally walked by Jim Johnson (6-2) to load the bases.
Alex Meija went 3-for-5 with three RBIS to help the Memphis Redbirds win their fourth straight game, a 7-5 Pacific Coast League victory over the Las Vegas 51s on Sunday at Autozone Park in Memphis, Tennessee.
Las Vegas starter Mitch Atkins gave up a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning, first to Mejia and then to Patrick Wisdom. The Redbirds added single runs off Atkins in the third and fifth innings and their final run off reliever Luis Mateo in the sixth.
Meanwhile, the 51s (3764) were left playing catchup all day. Atkins helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second.
Xorge Carrillo’s threerun homer in the sixth provided the bulk of the
51s offense and cut the Memphis (65-35) lead to 6-4. Later in the inning, the 51s had an opportunity to do more damage with Neil Walker batting and runners on the corners. However, the second baseman, who is on a rehab assignment from the parent New York Mets, popped out to end the threat.