Kershaw lasts just two innings

The Braves didn’t have to face Clayton Kershaw for long Sunday. The Dodgers ace left the series fifinale following the top of the second inning with right lowback tightness.

After Kershaw bounced a breaking ball to Tyler Flowers on a 2-0 pitch with two outs in the second, the lefthander threw a fastball on the next pitch for a called strike. He then stepped off the mound in obvious discomfort.

Kershaw spoke with the trainer for a minute behind the mound. He threw two test pitches before continuing.

After walking Flowers, Kershaw struck out Matt Adams to end the inning. Upon returning to the dug out, he sat brieflfly on the bench, cap off and hand on his forehead, looking down. Then a trainer came and spoke brieflfly with him before Kershaw picked up his cap and glove and headed to the clubhouse with the trainer.

Kershaw faced seven batters, struck out two, induced four ground- ball outs and issued the one walk. Neither team had scored before he left the game.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner widely regarded as baseball’s best pitcher, Kershaw missed more than two months last season for back issues and fifinished 12-4 with a 1.69 ERA in 21 starts, only the second time in eight seasons he made fewer than 30 starts.

He was 15-2 with a majorsbest 2.07 ERA in 20 starts before Sunday and led the National League in innings (139⅓) and strikeouts (166). The walk by Flowers was just the 24th issued by Kershaw.

Against the Braves, Kershaw was 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in eight career starts before Sunday, including 3-0 with 0.60 ERA in four starts since the beginning of the 2014 season.

Brussino has two years remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to earn $ 1,312,611 next season and his salary of $1,544,951 for 2018-19 is not guaranteed.

Brussino also has played professionally in Argentina with Penarol (2015-16) and Regatas Corrientes (201215). He has been a member of Argentina’s National Team since 2012 and played in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero.

The Hawks likely will add only a third point guard moving forward.