2014 NLDS: Dodgers Salvage Game 2 After Kershaw’s Game 1 Meltdown

A day after Los Angeles Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw melted down in epic fashion in the seventh inning of their 10-9 loss in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, Zack Greinke was nearly unhittable and Matt Kemp launched a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Dodgers to a 3-2 must-win. Considering how gut-wrenching Friday night’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals was, it was a great sign that the Dodgers were able to rebound and win Game 2.

October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) pitches the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at Game 1 several days later, Kershaw’s melt-down and the Dodgers’ loss don’t seem any less unbelievable or against all odds. For instance, the Dodgers had been 67-0 when giving Kershaw four runs or more of support. After the Dodgers had touched up Cardinals’ ace Adam Wainwright for six runs on 11 hits in four-plus innings, a Dodgers victory seemed all but assured.

Kershaw was cruising along, having only given up two hits in the first six innings. But, Kershaw then allowed a run on four straight hits to start off the top of the seventh inning, and after striking out Pete Kozma and Oscar Taveras, with a Jon Jay RBI single sandwiched in between, his nemesis, Matt Carpenter stepped into the batter’s box.

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Manager Don Mattingly walked to the mound to talk to Kershaw, and with everyone expecting him to pull his struggling ace from the game, Mattingly walked back to the dugout alone. Many people remember that in Game 6 of last season’s NLCS, the Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter doubled off of Kershaw after an 11-pitch at-bat with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Kershaw went on to give up four runs that inning, and the game was over for all intents and purposes.

Of course, Carpenter is hitting .321 in 29 plate appearances with a .952 OPS in his career against Kershaw, so at some point, it’s no longer a fluke.

October 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after the St. Louis Cardinals take the lead in the seventh inning in game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

This time, Kershaw got ahead of Carpenter with two early strikes, but on the eighth pitch, Carpenter hit a three-run double to chase Kershaw from the game and stun the previously raucous crowd. After Pedro Baez relieved Kershaw and walked Randal Grichuk, Matt Holliday hit a a three-run home run. The Dodgers didn’t give up, however, and got as close as 10-9 with a runner on third base and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Cardinals’ closer Trevor Rosenthal was too much for Yasiel Puig.

Kershaw ended up becoming the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to give up seven or more earned runs in consecutive starts. For the best pitcher in the major leagues over the past four seasons, that defies reason.

Zack Greinke came out dealing on Saturday evening, though, and after going seven strong innings with seven strikeouts, and only allowing two hits, the Dodgers appeared well on their way to tying the series. Unfortunately, J.P. Howell gave up a two-run home run to who else but Matt Carpenter in the top of the eighth inning, and the Dodgers’ faithful was beyond restless.

October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (27) reacts with relief pitcher J.P. Howell (56) after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

But there was Matt Kemp in the bottom of the inning, crushing a Pat Neshek pitch just inside the foul pole down the left field to give the Dodgers the lead back at 3-2. Kenley Jansen shut the door in the ninth inning, and the Dodgers could finally exhale. As the favored Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim) can attest, losing Games 1 and 2 at home are pretty much a death knell.

Now, the Dodgers head to St. Louis for Games 3 and 4 with Hyun-jin Ryu slated to start Game 3 against John Lackey, and none other than Clayton Kershaw expected back for Game 4. If the Dodgers are able to pull out a win in Game 3, there’s no doubt that Kershaw will be at his best to avenge the two stains on his still-young career. If not, though, the Cardinals could forever haunt Kershaw and leave him, and the Dodgers, searching for answers.