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    Clayton Kershaw chased in 1st inning as Dodgers lose NLDS opener to Diamondbacks
    • October 8, 2023

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, and coach Bob Geren look on from the dugout after the Arizona Diamondbacks scored six runs during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers center fielder James Outman can’t hold on to a double hit by the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Madre (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers center fielder James Outman can’t hold on to a double hit by the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Madre (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno, left, points to the sky after he hit a three-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw slumps after giving up a three-run home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw wipes his face after giving up a three-run home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (14) celebrates with teammates after he hit a three-run home run during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno celebrates in the dugout after he hit a three-run home run during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Evan Longoria hits an RBI double off of Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Thomas scores on a double by Evan Longoria (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Thomas scores past Dodgers catcher Will Smith on a double by Evan Longoria (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Thomas scores past Dodgers catcher Will Smith, far left, on a double by Evan Longoria (not pictured) as Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw fields a late throw home during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw wipes his face after giving up an RBI double to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Evan Longoria (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts walks to the mound to remove starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right, during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw was battered for six runs while getting just one out before being replaced. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removes starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, after he gave up six runs during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw walks to the dugout after being replaced after giving up six runs during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers relief pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll smiles toward his dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers relief pitcher Emmet Sheehan reacts after giving up a solo home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll during the second inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Dodgers’ Max Muncy holds his bat after lining out to end the third inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Dodgers’ Max Muncy holds his bat after lining out to end the third inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers relief pitcher Shelby Miller throws to the plate during the sixth inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy throws late as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (not pictured) is safe at first base during the sixth inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws to the plate during the sixth inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Dodgers relief pitcher Michael Grove throws to the plate during the seventh inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly is congratulated in the dugout after coming out of the game during the seventh inning of Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. Kelly pitched 6-1/3 shutout innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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    LOS ANGELES — Hall of Fame careers do not always end heroically.

    Willie Mays stumbled in the outfield while playing for the New York Mets during the 1973 World Series and it has become the archetype – exaggerated though it has been over the years – of the great player who stayed longer than his skills.

    Clayton Kershaw has not said this is his last season. He defied a shoulder injury that limited him over the final two months of the regular season and robbed him of velocity to earn his 32nd postseason start.

    If it is his farewell, though, the Dodgers’ 11-2 loss in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday night was Kershaw’s embarrassing stumble.

    He faced just eight batters. The first six all reached base and scored. He retired just one batter before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mercifully pulled him from the game.

    Kershaw sat alone on the bench, his head down, as Emmet Sheehan got out of the inning then walked the length of the dugout and disappeared down the tunnel leading to the clubhouse, his teammates politely looking away.

    Whether Kershaw emerges to pitch again for the Dodgers – this postseason or next year – is very much in doubt. It is easier to imagine the Dodgers placing him on the injured list with his unspecified shoulder issue (thus making him ineligible if the Dodgers rebound to reach the NL Championship Series) than it is to picture them sending Kershaw back to the mound for a Game 4 or 5 and risking more of this in a potential elimination game.

    Ketel Marte started Saturday’s beating with a rocket into the left-center field gap. James Outman got there but overran the ball, reached back and had it go off his glove for a double (which could have been scored an error).

    Corbin Carroll drove him in with an RBI single. In quick order, Tommy Pham singled, Christian Walker doubled off the bullpen gate in left field and Gabriel Moreno launched a 419-foot drive into the night for a three-run home run (the first of four Diamondbacks homers in the game).

    The five hits had exit velocities of 115.7, 109.6, 99.4, 105.7 and 110.8 mph on the home run. Anything 95 mph or higher is considered a ‘hard-hit’ ball by Statcast measures. Kershaw gave up another one (96.7 mph) but got an out on the ground ball to Miguel Rojas. A walk and another double followed before Roberts could get to the mound.

    It was the first time in Kershaw’s career that he allowed more than five ‘hard-hit’ balls in any inning. The Diamondbacks showed no fear, swinging at 24 of the 25 strikes Kershaw managed in his 35-pitch night and averaging 105.2 mph in exit velocity when they put it in play.

    To the litany of Kershaw’s October miseries include these new additions.

    He is the first pitcher in postseason history to allow five runs and five hits before recording an out, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

    And he is the third starting pitcher in postseason history to record one out or none while allowing six earned runs or more, joining Mike Foltynewicz of the Braves (against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2019 NLDS) and Gil Heredia of the Oakland A’s (against the New York Yankees in the 2000 ALDS), according to OptaStats.

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    Dodgers’ plan to stop the Diamondbacks’ running game is already in motion

    The Diamondbacks continued against Emmet Sheehan, the rookie called in to stop the bleeding. He gave up a home run to Carroll in the second inning and two more runs before the Diamondbacks tired of ripping extra-base hits, at least for awhile.

    While Kershaw making painful history, Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly reversed some personal history.

    Kelly came into the game 0-11 with a 5.49 ERA in 16 career starts against the Dodgers. According to OptaStats that is the most career losses without a win against a single opponent when starting a playoff game against them.

    Making the first postseason appearance of his career, Kelly breezed through the shell-shocked Dodgers. He allowed just three hits over 6⅓ innings, taking a shutout into the seventh before handing the big lead over to the bullpen.

    The Diamondbacks hit seven balls with exit velocities above 95 mph in the first inning – the Dodgers had five total off Kelly. Three of those went for outs.

    More to come on this story.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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