One hOt night
Kershaw fans 11, Turner blasts two-run shot as Dodgers take Game 1 in stifling L.A.
LOS ANGELES — On this one glorious night anyway, Clayton Kershaw could do nothing about the failures of the Dodgers franchise over the past three decades and his own wobbly post-season record.
All he could do on a blistering hot Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium for the opening game of the 113th World Series was pitch like it was worth the wait.
Worth 29 years of longing for a return to the championship round by a franchise that has long believed it belongs with the most storied in baseball.
Worth all those Cy Young wins, all-star games and an MVP trophy of Kershaw’s that hadn’t yet landed him a shot at a title.
Well, it was worth the wait and then some to see sheer Kershaw brilliance in the Dodgers 3-1 win over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, a rousing start to a Hollywood return to baseball’s biggest show.
Kershaw allowed just three hits while striking out 11 in seven innings and he did it against the highest scoring offence of 2017.
“He was unbelievable,” said Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, whose two-run homer in the sixth inning stood up as the game winners. “He’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around my life.
“To see him out there doing he did to one of the best offences in baseball … they don’t strike out. It was fun to watch him pound the zone and throw strike after strike after strike.”
Unbelievable indeed and with some historic context. Kershaw was the first pitcher to throw 11 strikeouts in the first game of the World Series since hall of famer Bob Gibson had 17 in 1968.
You know it meant the world to him too, not just to quiet the anxiousness for him to lead his club to the World Series. It meant the world because it was an important first step for a team that captured 104 regular season wins and has re-ignited rabid interest in the team throughout Southern California.
“It’s a special thing,” the 29-year-old lefty and careerlong Dodger said. “Who knows how many times I’m going to get to go to the World Series? I know more than anybody how hard it is to get there.
“I’m definitely not taking it for granted.”
Helped by a couple of home runs to take care of the offence, Kershaw left nothing to chance by performing to his most exacting of standards. He did allow a solo homer to Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the fourth and didn’t even flinch as he struck out the next three Astros hitters in order.
And how about the welcome to the World Series moment from Dodgers centre fielder Chris Taylor? One of the most improved hitters in baseball this year created an instant memory as the game was just beginning.
On the first pitch a Dodger faced in the game — yes, the first since 1988 — Taylor made a full turn and with the square contact sent the ball 447 feet out of the park to left field and almost to the palm trees beyond the bleachers.
Taylor began his season in triple A Oklahoma City and had just one career homer in the big leagues prior to this season Yes, worth the wait indeed. Undeniably one of the greatest pitchers of his generation, Kershaw improved to 3-0 this post season and 7-7 overall in his career playoff starts.
His 11 strikeouts made him the first pitcher to strike out that many in a World Series game since the Diamondbacks Randy Johnson did so against the Yankees in 2001.
All this against a slick-hitting Astros team that was one of the best in the majors at avoiding the strikeout in 2017.
Still, Kershaw needed some more offence and there was some waiting for that as well. Enter Turner. The NLCS coMVP blasted a towering shot to centre field to boost his RBI total to 14 setting a Dodgers single-season playoff record.
Even though he had thrown just 83 pitches, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ended Kershaw’s work night after seven innings. With the best bullpen of the post season, he wasn’t about to take any chances and Kershaw will be plenty rested now for Game 5.
Former Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow followed with a 1-2-3 eighth to set the stage for the Dodgers killer closer Kenley Jansen, he of the 41 regular-season saves. Jansen was at his lethal best in a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save.
The win was an important first step for the Dodgers, especially considering the Astros haven’t lost at home these playoffs. The winner of the first game of the World Series has gone on to capture the title 70 times (or 62.5 per cent) and in 12 of the past 14 years.
The Astros will attempt to get back to even with their own ace Justin Verlander, another pitcher with superstar pedigree in Game 2 on Tuesday.