Dodgers Recap: Kershaw’s Disatrous 8th Ends Hopes of Sweep

CHAVEZ RAVINE — Well, that could have gone a whole lot better. Riding high after two thrilling wins in Philadelphia your Los Angeles Dodgers played the worst game of October on Wednesday night, losing 8-1 in Game 3 of the NLDS and giving the Phillies a glimmer of hope. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was not sharp, but the Dodgers got the game into the late innings only down by two. However, in a managerial decision that is sure to be second guessed, Dave Roberts sent Clayton Kershaw to the mound for both the seventh AND the eighth. In the seventh, it was a narrow escape. In the eighth, it was an unmitigated trainwreck. Our favorite Dodger was absolutely shelled, turning a tight game in to an 8-2 rout. IT. WAS. NOT. GOOD.

All year, the Dodgers have had a habit of making pitchers with shaky ERA numbers look like Tom Seaver from time to time. Tonight, it was Aaron Nola‘s turn to be the recipient of such largesse. Coming into the game with a regular season ERA hovering around 7.00, Nola nevertheless was able to work through the lineup the first time without a whole lot of damage. They had a prime scoring opportunity in the first when Mookie Betts hit a one-out triple, but Nola was able to work around it. He ended up pitching two scoreless frames before giving way to lefty Ranger Suarez.

The Dodgers drew first blood in this one, as Tommy Edman barrelled up the first pitch from Suarez and sent it flying through the LA night. It was 1-0 Dodgers and the evening was off to a good start.

Unfortunately that was about all the Dodgers had to cheer about in the first half of the game. Yoshinobu Yamamoto looked strong through three innings, but ran into big time trouble in the top of the fourth. We knew that we couldn’t get through this series without at least ONE Schwarbomb, and boy did we get one on Wednesday. Leading off the innning, Kyle Schwarber absolutely obliterated a Yamamoto four-seamer, sending it practically out of Dodger Stadium to tie the score. Yeesh.

Things unraveled a bit after that. Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm hit back-to-back singles and Harper was able to come around to score, thanks to a throwing error from outfielder Andy Pages. Pages has a great arm, but often he’s lacking in decision making. This throw was one such case. A sacrifice fly scored a third run, and Yamamoto came off the mound at the end of the inning a little shellshocked and trailing by a 3-1 score. These runs were the first given up by Yama in a good long time. Unfortunate to come in this clinching game, but it is what it is.

With an elevated pitch count and a desire to save bullets, Yamamoto was pulled from this one a lot earlier than expected, coming out in the fifth after giving up a couple more singles. Luckily, Anthony Banda was able to pitch his way out of the jam and the game went into the later innings with the Dodgers still chasing two runs.

Meanwhile, other than the dong from Edman, the Dodgers couldn’t solve Ranger Suarez. Their best chance was in the bottom of the sixth when they had men on first and second with one out. However, Suarez was able to induce a double play ball from Max Muncy and the threat was quelled with no runs scored. Ugh.

In the top of the seventh, Dodger Stadium rose as one to give a thunderous ovation to Clayton Kershaw, making his first postseason appearance out of the bullpen this season. He was tasked with the top of the Phillies batting order, and started off by falling behind to Trea Turner 3-0 before surrendering a single to the former Dodger. He walked a couple guys, and gave up some hard contact, but survived the inning with no runs surrendered. That’s kind of how it was expected to go.

Still chasing two runs, manager Dave Roberts inexplicably let Kershaw go out for the eighth, and it turned out to be a not great decision. Like, not at all. He was greeted by J.T. Realmuto, who blasted a pitch into left centerfield for a solo home run. Kershaw has always struggled outside the routine of being a starting pitcher, and this night wasn’t much different. But the Phillies weren’t done. Before the bloodletting was over, five Phillies crossed the plate. Trea Turner hit a two-run single. Kyle Schwarber unloaded another home run, scoring Turner. Bryce Harper doubled and almost scored, only to be gunned down at the plate by Kiké Hernández. If this is the last time we see Kershaw in October, it was a sad end to his Hall-of-Fame career.

But I can’t really blame Kershaw. What was Dave Roberts thinking, sending him back out there after a shaky seventh. Let him have his moment, and then for the love of all that is holy, get him out of the damn game! In the course of about ten minutes, the game went from winnable to dumpster fire, and there’s no one to blame but the manager.

The Dodgers have their second bite of the apple on Thursday, playing an afternoon game (thanks, MLB) in their attempt to get to the NLCS. It not exactly a must-win situation, but it kind feels like it. Game time 3:00 PDT. Let’s get back on the right track and end this thing. Winner-take-all in Philadelphia is something I’m not pining for. Glasnow vs. Sanchez. LFG.

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