Dodgers get best of Brewers in 13 innings
Kershaw set for Game 5 today, but how much longer in L.A.?
LOS ANGELES >> Cody Bellinger singled home the winning run in the 13th inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night and tying the NL Championship Series at two games apiece.
Bellinger grounded a 3-2 pitch from Junior Guerra into right field, scoring Manny Machado, who slid home and touched the plate with his left hand to beat the tag and end a thriller that took 5 hours, 15 minutes.
The Dodgers struck out 17 times; the Brewers fanned 15 times.
Game 5 is Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, with Wade Miley going for the Brewers against fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw.
With one out, Machado had a broken-bat single to left and went to second on Guerra’s wild pitch.
Bellinger, who entered as a pinch hitter in the sixth, also had the defensive play of the game. He made a diving catch on his belly of a ball hit by Lorenzo Cain leading off the 10th, spreading his arms out and sliding like a snow angel in right field
• If Kershaw is pitching his final games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner isn’t saying.
Kershaw can opt out of the last two years and $70 million remaining on his contract after the World Series ends. Dodgers ownership has made it clear the team would like its ace to stay.
“I have not made a decision,” Kershaw said Tuesday.
Kershaw was 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA in the regular season. After the All-Star break, he went 6-1 with the same ERA.
Kershaw admitted after his last regular-season start that he had considered the possibility of it being his last go-round with the Dodgers, the only team the 30-year-old left-hander has played for during his big league career.
But trying to stay alive in the best-of-seven pennant playoff has his full attention right now. The series is tied 2-2.
“For me it’s just trying to focus as much as I possibly can on the Brewers and getting ready for tomorrow’s start,” Kershaw said, “and putting everything else on the back burner as best I possibly can.”
Observers have noted that Kershaw’s fastball velocity isn’t what it used to be, and he’s had stints on the disabled list in four of the last five seasons with back issues, leaving some to wonder if his best years are behind him.
Kershaw’s postseason numbers aren’t nearly as good as during the regular season. He is 8-8 with a 4.26 ERA and one save in 26 career postseason games. However, he had the best postseason performance of his career in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against Atlanta. Kershaw allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, struck out three and walked none.
Besides the numbers, Kershaw’s value is that he has been the face of the Dodgers for nearly 10 years. The rest of the pitching staff, whether veteran or rookie, looks to him to set the tone in the clubhouse and on the mound.
His competitiveness is frequently cited by his teammates and Roberts.
“That’s the thing about Clayton which has made him great, whether it’s a spring training game or playoff game, he has the same intent,” the manager said.
Kershaw expressed gratitude for his time in Los Angeles. The Dallas native said he’s grown up in the city, noting that he’s gotten married and had two children during his years with the team.
• Dodgers infielder Enrique Hernandez apologized after complaining “the fans had no energy” during Los Angeles’ Game 3 loss in the NL Championship Series.
Hernandez tweeted a statement claiming his comments were taken out of context. He said he was “really frustrated” following a 4-0 loss to the Brewers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles trails the best-ofseven series 2-1.
“We all know (Hernandez) is very emotional,” Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, said before Game
4. “I know he feels we’re all in it together as far as players, coaches, fans. His interaction with the fans is top-level, so I know he felt bad that it was kind of received that way.”
Hernandez said that “last night felt off” and “was just a weird day overall.” He said the Dodgers’ play in Game 3 was “unacceptable.”
“What I said last night doesn’t portray the way I truly feel about you guys!” he wrote. “You guys are the best fans in baseball.”
• Manny Machado has stepped into trouble again.
Both benches cleared after the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star shortstop clipped the back leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out his groundout Tuesday night in the 10th inning. Aguilar left his foot on the base for a moment after Machado was already out, and the star shortstop appeared to show his displeasure by bringing his left foot forward and kicking Aguilar on the back of the leg.