Dodgers Brought Back From The Brink

It happened again — the Dodgers were starting their ace Clayton Kershaw in an elimination game needing a win to force a winner take all game.

In 2013 the Dodgers needed to beat the St. Louis Cardinals on the road in Game 6.

Kershaw would lose, going four innings and giving up seven runs in an eventual series ending 9-0 loss.

Last year on 3 days rest in St. Louis again Kershaw had a one hitter going into the seventh inning when he gave up three straight hits, the last one being a 3 run bomb providing the winning 3-2 margin eliminating the Dodgers again.

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On Tuesday night pitching on 3 days rest in New York against the Mets down 2-1 and needing a win to face a winner take all Game 5 back in Los Angeles.

Carrying a 1-6 Win-Loss record as a starter in the playoffs, Kershaw needed to rescue the Dodgers in order to burnish label of a playoff choker.

In a strong effort Kershaw went 7 innings giving up three hits and striking out 8 and one mistake to Mets outfielder Daniel Murphy who barely got a home run as the ball hit the top of the outfield wall and it bounced out.

It was all the runs that the Mets would muster on the night.

Unlike in his previous starts Kershaw may have been able to relax as he was finally given some run support.

In the top of the third Kershaw was able to push Mets starter Steven Matz by getting a one out single, Kershaw was erased from the bases by the next batter, but Matz then gave up 3 straight hits and the Dodgers scored on an RBI single by Adrian Gonzalez and then a two run double by former Mets infielder Justin Turner.

After the Murphy home run Kershaw would give up only two more hits and then he would run up against his white whale the seventh inning.

In last years NLDS Kershaw came up against the seventh inning twice and both ended up being a nightmare as he tired and gave up leads that led to losses that sealed the D0dgers doom.

When Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes started the Mets seventh with an infield single, the Dodgers and their fans must have felt snake bitten as if they were watching re-run.

This time though Kershaw proved whey he is the best pitcher on the planet as he was able to weather the storm and get three quick outs.

Having gotten what he needed from his ace much maligned Dodgers manager Don Mattingly went to his bullpen to get six outs.

Having been unable to bridge to Dodger closer Kenley Jansen the year before, this time Mattingly was able to push the right buttons as he tapped set-up man Chris Hatcher to be that bridge.

Hatcher quickly got to outs but then walked Curtis Granderson, wasting no time Mattingly went for Jansen.

Jansen was attempting a four out save something he’d only done once all year, with a runner on he had a 2-2 count on David Wright who looked like he foul tipped strike three but was called a ball instead.

With two on now Jansen bore down and got a flyout ending the threat.

In the ninth Jansen shut down the Mets getting three quick outs sending the series back to Los Angeles.

Now Game 5 will be Thursday at Dodger Stadium, Zach Greinke will try to keep the Dodgers season alive and the Dodgers will have to try to solve Jacob deGrom who shut them down in Game 1.

Bottom Line: Dodgers are ready to dial out.

Until then, though, it can no longer be written that Clayton Kershaw — the best pitcher on the planet — cannot pitch in the playoffs.

Here’s to hoping we get to see him do it some more.