Clayton Kershaw is razor sharp as the Dodgers beat the Cardinals 1-0
Los Angeles Dodgers #22 Clayton Kershaw (LHP) had seven strikeouts against the St.Louis Cardinals. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Clayton Kershaw (5-1), with a 1.89 ERA, pitched 7.0 innings for the Dodgers, gave up two hits, and had seven strikeouts, and relief pitchers, Evan Phillips in the eighth inning and Brusdar Graterol (S,2) in the ninth inning helped shut out the Cardinals 1-0 at Dodgers Stadium.
Kershaw struck out nine batters, retiring the first 13 batters he faced on the mound with five strikeouts. His curve balls, four-seam fastball, and the slider were great tonight.
"The fastball command was better, and then my slider, especially the first four innings, was really good," Kershaw said. "It's a tough lineup. [Paul] Goldschmidt and [Nolan] Arenado are two of the toughest at-bats that I have in the game."
The Dodgers led 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning after James Outman stole second base, advanced to third base on a throwing error, and scored after Austin Barnes singled to center field with two outs.
Los Angeles Dodgers #15 Austin Barnes (C) hit a single into center field that allowed James Outman to score from third base at Dodgers Stadium. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
"It felt good, and obviously, I have been struggling a little bit," said Barnes, who is batting just .093. "Just to come through, get a run on the board, especially when (Kershaw) is on the mound. When we're downhill and have a lead. He's really, really good."
The only threat by the Cardinals was in the eighth inning when Phillips walked a batter and an error by the shortstop Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers manager Dave Roberts liked what he saw from Kershaw on the mound tonight.
"I think I've said it before, maybe even this year, but tonight was his best night for me (this season) as far as stuff, start to finish," Roberts said of Kershaw. "I thought the fastball (was good), the curveball, the lateness of it was as good as I've seen it. The slider. Just the way he tunneled tonight was exceptional."
Left-handed Jordan Montgomery (2-4), with a 3.34 ERA, went 6.2 innings for St. Louis while giving up five hits, seven strikeouts, and one run, with another painful loss after losing to the Giants 4-0 with an unearned run on Monday.
The Cardinals (10-18) have lost five of their last six games and look to avoid a sweep by the Dodgers (15-13) on Sunday, facing their starting pitcher Noah Seth Syndergaard (0-3).