Snakes Bite Kershaw, Dodgers With Homers And Walks

The Los Angeles Dodgers (2-3) faced off against the increasingly pesky division “rival” Arizona Diamondbacks (3-1) for the second game of the series at Chase Field.  Following the late inning collapse last night (and early this morning), the Dodgers looked to redeem themselves behind the arm of their ace, Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw, who began the game with a career ERA of 2.36, has not started a season 0-2 since his sophomore year in 2009.  For the Dodgers’ ace, a “bad” performance would be considered a solid start for just about any other pitcher in the league.  Unfortuately, the three-time NL Cy Young winner is held to a higher standard – a much higher standard.  Last year, Kershaw gave up a career high 23 home runs despite a 2.31 ERA on the season.  Tonight, he would be bit by the long ball a couple more times.

The first came off the bat of former St. Louis Cardinals utility man, Daniel Descalso, who hit a solo shot in the second inning to start the scoring for the Diamondbacks.  The Dodgers would answer with a deep sac-fly by Chris Taylor that may have left the field had the Diamondbacks not invested in their new humidor.  The tie would not last long, though, as Kershaw was struck by yet another solo homer, this time coming off the hot bat of outfielder David Peralta, putting the D-backs on top.

Kershaw would finish the game trailing 2-1 after tossing 97 pitches through 6 innings.  Newly acquired relief pitcher, Scott Alexander, would take the mound in the 7th and, unfortunately for the Dodgers, the game would go from bad to worse.  Alexander immediately gave up back-to-back singles followed by a walk to Diamondbacks pinch-hitting relief pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to load the bases.  He would strike out Peralta for the first out but, after a 10-pitch battle with Ketel Marte, would surrender the walk making it 3-1 Arizona.

Pedro Baez would come in to “relieve” Alexander but, unfortunately, could not find the strike zone as he offered two more free passes to both Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock extending the D-backs lead 5-1.  Despite the criticism Baez received last season, he only allowed two inherited runners to score all of last year.  Unfortunately, for Baez, he would tie that statistic in a single outing tonight.

And, just for good measure, the Diamondbacks would bite once more in the 8th on a solo home run off pinch-hitting catcher, John Ryan Murphy, to bring the game to its final score of 6-1.  The Dodgers have now lost 8 consecutive regular season games to the Diamondbacks  dating back to the end of last year.  Alex Wood will look to end the losing streak tomorrow afternoon and can, hopefully, bag the Snakes to stop the poison from spreading.  Where is Steve Irwin when you need him?

BakoBoyInBlue