Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw’s five most memorable moments

2. His 2016 NLDS save

Clayton Kershaw’s most iconic postseason moment did not come in a start, although it arguably should have been his Game 1 start in the 2017 World Series… but the Dodgers lost. Kershaw’s most iconic postseason moment came in a save which was much more high stakes than that of his 2018 NLCS save.

Kershaw, yet again, was not great in the 2016 NLDS. He allowed three runs in five innings of work in Game 1, which was enough to win the game, 4-3, but was not an overly impressive performance.

Game 4 was not a great showing for Kershaw, either. While he struck out 11 batters, Kershaw allowed five runs in six and two-thirds innings. Kershaw squandered a 5-2 lead in the seventh inning, which has been known as his foil in the playoffs. Kershaw could not finish the inning with two outs and a runner on first and allowed the bases to be loaded.

The Dodgers still won the game and extended the series to Game 5. It was a nerve-wracking game. The Dodgers were trailing 1-0 all game before scoring four runs in the top of the seventh. Grant Dayton then allowed a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, forcing Kenley Jansen to come into the came for a nine-out save.

Kenley did not have enough in the gas tank and gave the ball over to Kershaw, who was on one-days rest, with runners on first and second and one out in a one-run game.

What did Kershaw do? He forced Daniel Murphy to pop up to second base and Wilmer Difo to strikeout.