Dodgers drive Kershaw win

Clayton Kershaw still hasn’t figured out how to dominate in October. This time, he couldn’t even keep the baseball in the yard.

But teammate Justin Turner homered and drove in five runs and Kershaw won despite giving up four long balls as the Dodgers roared to a 9-5 victory against Arizona late Friday night in Game 1 of their National League-Division Series.

With his teammates providing such a generous cushion, Kershaw could afford to allow a few big blasts in the first victory of his checkered postseason career at Dodger Stadium. He improved to 5-7 in the playoffs.

“Yeah, he gave up four solo homers, but who cares?” asked Turner, batting .397 with 17 RBIs in his past 17 postseason games.

“When you have a lead like that, it’s about attacking guys, not giving up free bases and pounding the zone. So I thought he was spectacular for us tonight.”

Indians

Edwin Encarnacion appeared to badly turn his ankle in the first inning of Cleveland’s thrilling 9-8 win against the Yankees in Game 2 of their series. He walked off the field with the help of trainers. It was initially ruled a sprained ankle. Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters in New York Saturday that Encarnacion’s ankle was doing much better, and that he hadn’t yet been ruled out Sunday night for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, at least as a pinch-hitter.

Astros

When Brad Peacock headed to spring training with Houston in February, he was so worried he wouldn’t make the team that he told his then-pregnant wife that he might end up playing in Japan this season. Instead, Peacock put together his best season and will make his first postseason start Sunday when the Astros look to complete a sweep of the Boston Red Sox in their ALDS.