Though he has been up-and-down in his five starts since coming off his second stint on the disabled list, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw says he definitely feels healthy and thinks "the consistency's coming."
Clayton Kershaw, on the Dodgers going from 10 under to 10 up and quickly building some depth in their starting rotation ...
Before Manny Machado arrived for the All-Star Game, the Futures Game on Sunday was a who's who of prospects bandied about in trade talks for the Orioles shortstop and others expected to be moved before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Yasmani Grandal homered, Enrique Hernandez hit a solo shot on his first pitch in the seventh inning for the go-ahead run, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 5-3 win over the Angels on Sunday to gain a split in the Freeway Series.
Kenley Jansen bounced back from a loss on Saturday with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to notch his 27th save on Sunday. The Dodgers took 2 of 3 from the Angels to close out the first half, and the three games were decided by a combined four runs. The Dodgers head into the All-Star break with a 53-43 record and sit a half-game up on the Diamondbacks in the NL West. The Angels are 49-48, but way back in a stacked AL West.
Kike Hernandez lined his 16th home run in 239 at-bats this season, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Heading into this season: 28 career home runs, 836 career at-bats.
Kenta Maeda escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout of Ian Kinsler, which means Clayton Kershaw will finish the first half with a 3-4 record and a 2.74 ERA. 78 SO, 17 BB, 75 2/3 IP.
Clayton Kershaw was removed from the game after an intense six-pitch battle with Mike Trout ended in a walk. He begged for a couple of strike calls on an afternoon when he did not have his best stuff, and he departed with two on and two out in the seventh, the score tied at 3.
They must be using the MLB balls and not the minor league ball. Yusniel Diaz hits his second home run, another screaming liner to right-center, the seventh long ball of this Futures Game. Based on this very small sample size of seven innings, you have to be impressed with what the position players have done at the plate. The pitchers? Too many meaty fastballs down the middle.
Clayton Kershaw struck out Justin Upton with a 92-mph fastball to end the fifth and keep the score tied at 3. He hasn't thrown many of those; mostly curveballs and sliders. Kershaw has allowed 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. He needed 82 pitches for 15 outs and may have only one more inning left in him.
The ball is flying at the Futures Game as Dodgers outfielder Yusniel Diaz hits the fifth home run of the game, an impressive line drive to center field that just kept carrying. He's hitting .314 with more walks than strikeouts at Double-A, although has just six home runs in 220 at-bats.
Clayton Kershaw served up a three-run homer to Jefry Marte, tying this game at 3 in the fourth inning. It was the first home run he had allowed in 23-plus innings since coming off the disabled list.
Clayton Kershaw slapped a two-out single to the right side to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the second inning. It's his fourth hit, and first RBI, in 23 at-bats this season.
Clayton Kershaw escaped a first-inning bases-loaded jam unscathed, but he needed 29 pitches to do so. Kershaw entered with an average of 14.9 pitches per inning, which was fifth-lowest among those with at least 65 innings but also his highest rate in six years.
Clayton Kershaw's pitch counts since coming off the DL: 55, 68, 74, 89. He's pretty much restriction free now, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated. In case you're wondering: Mike Trout is 2-for-11 lifetime against Kershaw, with 1 BB and 4 SO.
Dave Roberts was asked what he was most proud about with his team in the first half. "Ignoring the noise," he said. The Dodgers were 10 games under .500 on May 16, but can enter the All-Star break in first place with a win today. "If we play the right way," Roberts said of the second half, "we'll be at the top of the division."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Julio Urias: "4 to 6 weeks is fair for him to be able to pitch for our club."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, on what has allowed Chase Utley to excel as a pinch-hitter: "I think one thing is the buy-in and understanding his role. The other part of it is just the preparation. Every time he steps in the box, he's prepared to hit, and he knows how to approach that particular pitcher."
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who has nonetheless been very good, has now given up five home runs, which ties his total from last season and is one shy of his career high. He was asked if he's fighting through anything lately ...
Kole Calhoun homered on his first pitch from All-Star closer Kenley Jansen in the 10th inning, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-4 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday night after the Angels blew two leads in the Freeway Series.
Joc Pederson came within about five feet of a walk-off grand slam. Instead, they will go to extras at Dodger Stadium. Kenley Jansen will pitch the 10th, and Kenta Maeda might be available if the Dodgers are in a pinch in later innings.
Chase Utley, who announced Friday that he will retire at season's end, began the ninth with a single, making him 11-for-24 as a pinch-hitter this season, then scored all the way from first on Yasmani Grandal's double, tying this game at 4 in the ninth.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 53 | 43 | .552 | - | W1 |
| Arizona | 53 | 44 | .546 | 0.5 | L1 |
| Colorado | 51 | 45 | .531 | 2 | W5 |
| San Francisco | 50 | 48 | .510 | 4 | L2 |
| San Diego | 40 | 59 | .404 | 14.5 | L5 |
