Dodgers On Cusp of Second Straight World Series Birth
Despite his shaky past in such occurrences, there’s no one else in the MLB Dave Roberts feels as confident in handing the game ball in a big game than Clayton Kershaw.
In a 2-2 series with the winner being a win away from a World Series birth, Kershaw validated the Dodgers skipper.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium in Game 5 of the NLCS to take a 3-2 series lead.
Few pitchers in the history of the MLB have made pitching mastery look as easy as Clayton Kershaw, and he did that in a swing game vs the Milwaukee Brewers.
Clayton Kershaw (2-1) made up for a rough outing in Game 1 at Miller Park with a outstanding performance vs the Brewers a night after a marathon Game 4.
Kershaw would allow one run on three hits and a walk while striking out nine over seven innings of work.
The fire and passion from Kershaw — who can opt out of his contract after the season concludes — was there for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. He matched his intensity with his razor sharp focus on the mound as he mostly mowed through a Brewers lineup searching for answers.
In two starts at Dodger Stadium this postseason the Dodgers ace has gone 15 innings while allowing only one run.
Because of it, the Dodgers are a win away from a second consecutive World Series appearance.
The Los Angeles Dodgers outhit the Milwaukee Brewers 9 to 5. Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig would finish with two hits apiece.
Craig Counsell would pull a curveball on Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the beginning of Game 1.
After a five-pitch walk by left-hander Wade Miley to start Game 5, Craig Counsell would trout out to the mound to take the ball from his starter.
In his place, right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who would be faced with pitching against a mostly righty dominated lineup.
Woodruff would come into the game and put on a impressive pitching display against the Dodgers offense, which has struggled since the series shifted to Dodger Stadium.
He would be matched by a pitcher who needs no introduction in Clayton Kershaw, who had his A-game on Wednesday afternoon against the Brewers.
In a mostly dominant performance, Kershaw would endure a speed bump in the third inning vs Milwaukee.
Lorenzo Cain would hit a RBI double off of left-hander Clayton Kershaw with one-out in the third inning to spring Milwaukee out to an early 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers found opportunity in the fifth inning after Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia, trying to make a tough play, overthrew a ball past first baseman Jesus Aguilar as Chris Taylor advanced to second on the error.
Taylor would steal third base without a throw as he got a great jump on a 0-0 pitch from Brandon Woodruff. After a strikeout by Enrique Hernandez, catcher Austin Barnes would single up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.
Woodruff would remain in the game, having earned the confidence of Craig Counsell. The move would backfire on Counsell, however, as Max Muncy would hit a RBI single with one-out in the sixth inning, forcing Counsell into going to his bullpen again.
Newly inserted right-hander Corbin Burnes would retire Chris Taylor with a strikeout but would fail to get out of the inning unscathed. Pinch-hitting for Enrique Hernandez, Yasiel Puig would extend Los Angeles’ lead to 3-1.
The Dodgers would tack on two more runs in the seventh inning to salt away a 3-2 series advantage vs the Brewers.
Woodruff (0-1) finished the game allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight in his five and one-thirds innings of work.
Craig Counsell’s move to relieve Wade Miley from Game 5 after one batter didn’t blow up in Counsell’s face, but now he must wonder if the Brewers have enough mentally to battle back from a 3-2 series hole.
Christian Yelich went 0-for-4 as his batting average dropped to .150 for the series. Outside of Lorenzo Cain and Orlando Arcia, there hasn’t been much offense to go around for the Brewers as they have scored three runs over the last 24 innings.
Offensively, it was going to be a uphill battle going against a locked in Clayton Kershaw looking to redeem himself, but the Brewers have failed to muster any key hits over the past two games.
The question coming into this series for Los Angeles was if it becomes a battle of the bullpens, which would win out? So far it’s the Dodgers’ bullpen, which has shutdown the Brewers offense this entire series.
The Brewers have little time to find answers, with a off day providing them with time to clear their minds from what has been a frustrating past two days in Los Angeles, California.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 6 is one of their two opportunities to end this series and move on to play for a World Series title.
The Brewers are limping into Game 6 with a bullpen taxed and a offense that has gone colder than a winter day in Alaska.
Dave Roberts has to feel that Game 6 is the time to end this series as the momentum has shifted in a matter of 48 hours after Los Angeles fell behind 2-1 in this series.
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