Chicago knocks out Kershaw after one inning
CHICAGO — Clayton Kershaw lasted just one inning in the shortest start of his stellar career while Kyle Hendricks pitched a complete game for the Chicago Cubs in a 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in the opener of a split doubleheader.
Exactly 11 years after he went just 1⁄ innings against Milwaukee in what was his shortest start, Kershaw (4-3) didn’t last long in this one.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner gave up four runs and four hits, including an RBI single by Anthony Rizzo and three-run double by David Bote. He faced nine batters in a 39-pitch inning as his ERA rose from 2.09 to 2.95.
The Dodgers lost for the seventh time in nine games. “It wasn’t good,” Kershaw said. “There’s really nothing you can do at this point. It’s embarrassing. No excuses. I was horrible. I just put our team in a really bad spot with a doubleheader.”
Hendricks (2-3) went seven innings in his sixth career complete game and the longest outing for the Cubs this season.
He gave up seven hits, struck out six and walked one while lowering his ERA from 7.54 to 6.07. Hendricks did not allow a run until pinch-hitter Keibert Ruiz homered with one out in the seventh.
The Cubs, who had lost seven of nine, coasted despite shortstop Javier Baez making three errors. Jake Marisnick homered for Chicago.
Kershaw hadn’t allowed four or more runs in an inning of a regular-season game since a four-run sixth against Philadelphia on Sept. 18, 2017.
The only other time he allowed four or more in a first inning was on Aug. 28, 2008, when he got tagged for five at Washington.
Kershaw gave up a one-out double to Kris Bryant, and things unraveled for him from there.
Rizzo followed with an RBI single. Baez walked and Matt Duffy singled to load the bases before Bote drove a three-run double off the wall in left-center to make it 4-0.
Kershaw hadn’t allowed four or more runs in an inning since a four-run sixth against Philadelphia on Sept. 18, 2017.
And the only other time he gave up four or more in a first inning was on Aug. 28, 2008, when he got tagged for five at Washington.