Dodgers a win away from World Series
LOS ANGELES: Los
Ange les ace
Clayton Kershaw pitched seven stellar innings and the
Dodgers parlayed nine hits into a
5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) to move within one win of returning to baseball’s World Series.
The Dodgers took a 3- 2 lead in the best- of- seven National League Championship Series, and can reach Major League Baseball’s championship showcase for the second straight year with a victory in game six in Milwaukee on Friday.
The winner of the series will take on either the reigning champion Houston Astros -- who beat the Dodgers in seven games last season -- or the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball’s championship showcase.
The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead into Wednesday’s American League Championship Series contest in Houston.
Kershaw, who endured the shortest post-season outing of his career in the Dodgers’ game one loss at Milwaukee last week, gave up one run on three hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking two.
He said heading back to Milwaukee with a 3- 2 series lead was “huge”.
“It’s a tough place to play,” he said of the Brewers’ roofed stadium. “It’s a great team. And it’s been a battle every single game we’ve played them so far, and we don’t expect anything different when we go back.
“We’re in a much better spot now because of today and I’m glad I was able to contribute today.”
Kershaw was in trouble in the third, when the Brewers scored their only run, but with the bases
Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
loaded he struck out Jesus Aguilar in an eight pitch at bat to end the frame and retired the next 12 batters he faced.
“Anytime you can work yourself out of situations like that
that’s going to make or break the game,” Kershaw said. “Once I was able to work out of that, really just tried to focus on getting the next guy, next guy, next guy.”
The Dodgers, who led the National
League with 235 homers, drove in all but one of their runs with singles.
the fourth inning, the Dodgers when Chris Taylor got things rolling with a leadoff single, reached second on a throwing error and stole third. He scored on a base hit by Austin Barnes