Clayton Kershaw Dominates As Los Angeles Takes Game 1 Of The World Series
Los Angeles left-hander Clayton Kershaw was outstanding in game one of the world series as he dominated Houston.
Pitching just like the legend sitting in the second row at Dodger Stadium, Sandy Koufax, left-hander Clayton Kershaw overwhelmed the explosive Astros with 11 strikeouts in seven dazzling innings on Tuesday night, and Justin Turner slugged a tiebreaking two-run homer off Dallas Keuchel for a 3-1 Dodgers win in the opener of the World Series. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
The two-hour, 28-minute game -- the quickest in Fall Classic history since Game 4 of the 1992 Series (2:21) -- gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven World Series presented by YouTube TV, with Game 2 here on Wednesday night. The winner of Game 1 has gone on to win 25 of the past 29 World Series, and 62.5 percent of the Series overall. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Turner's sixth-inning home run -- hit using a lighter bat than he used his first two plate appearances -- followed a two-out walk to Chris Taylor, who opened the bottom of the first by launching Keuchel's first pitch 447 feet for his third postseason homer. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"I think CT is the hero," Turner said of his co-MVP of the National League Championship Series presented by Camping World. "He got us on the board early. He drew the two-out walk, stayed in the zone and gave me the opportunity. That's what he's been doing for us all year long. He's the spark plug at the top of the lineup, and when he goes, we go.""according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Before the game, someone had scrawled a plan on the whiteboard in Los Angeles' clubhouse. "Hit these boys in their mouths & don't look back!" the message read. The Dodgers did just that. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"Taylor hit a first-pitch four-seamer out of the yard, kind of hit us in the jaw," Keuchel said. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"We recovered nicely. I knew we would scratch a run, maybe two, off of Kershaw, but he was as good as advertised. It was one pitch away from being 1-1 going into the seventh. We're trying to win one of two here, so hopefully we'll come out tomorrow and get a win." "according tohttp://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
In this postseason, Turner has bolstered his case as one of the great October producers of his generation with four homers (one shy of Davey Lopes' club record), a franchise single-season record of 14 RBIs and 26 career postseason RBIs, tying Duke Snider's franchise record. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"He's that guy you want up there in the big moments," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Turner. "He doesn't scare off." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Los Angeles' first World Series appearance in 29 years began with a 103 degrees at first pitch but the heat didn't bother Kershaw, who in his World Series debut allowed only three hits and a run on Alex Bregman's home run leading off the fourth."according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"Tonight was one of those nights I think the first time in a while, where we've seen all three of his pitches synced up," said Roberts. "He just was repeating the delivery, held the velocity. Was throwing the baseball where he needed to, where he wanted to." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Kershaw, in a franchise-record-setting seventh postseason victory, didn't walk a batter, and the 11 strikeouts were tied for the most by a Dodger in a World Series game since Koufax's 15 in Game 1 in 1963 against the Yankees. They also were the most for any pitcher in the World Series since the Yanks' Orlando Hernandez had 12 in 2000, and the most strikeouts by any one pitcher against the Astros this year. The only other pitcher with 11 strikeouts and no walks in a World Series game was current Dodgers executive Don Newcombe (1949), who also was in attendance Tuesday night. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"I think this team is a really good hitting team," Kershaw said. "They hit a lot of homers and don't strike out. There's little room for error. So it's important for me to establish pitches, be able to throw multiple things for strikes, and thankfully I was able to do that tonight. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"I made a few mistakes. Obviously Bregman got me , then threw one down the middle to Carlos Correa that he popped up; that could've gone a long way, too. So for the most part, though, I'll take it. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"And then two big swings, [Taylor] just getting that monkey off our back, getting that first run across is huge. [Turner] just doing what he does, just keeps getting clutch hit after clutch hit. Just trying to make that two-run lead stand up." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Brandon Morrow pitched the eighth inning and Kenley Jansen the ninth for the save. Jansen has begun his postseason career with 12 consecutive save conversions, the most since saves became an official stat in 1969. The Dodgers' bullpen has thrown a postseason record 25 consecutive scoreless innings. Los Angeles relievers have allowed three runs over 30 2/3 innings in the postseason. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Kershaw said he told Roberts he had another inning in him after throwing only 83 pitches, but the manager went to this October's best bullpen. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"You know with our bullpen, it doesn't matter," Kershaw said. "So I told him I was good to go, but how can you argue with what [Morrow] and Kenley are doing back there? They proved it tonight once again." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
The Astros fell to 1-5 on the road this postseason, compared with 6-0 at Minute Maid Park. Their latest road defeat also dropped the franchise to 0-5 in World Series games."according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"Sometimes you have to tip the hat to the other team," Houston second baseman Jose Altuve said. "I think that's the case today. You have to tip your hat to Clayton. He made quality pitches since the first inning. It was really tough to hit him. He did a really good job." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Taylor turned on the first pitch of the game thrown by Keuchel and sent it 447 feet into the left-field seats, joining Don Buford (1969), Dustin Pedroia (2007) and Alcides Escobar ('15) as the only players to connect on a leadoff homer in Game 1 of the World Series. Taylor's homer is the second-longest dinger tracked by Statcast™ this postseason, behind only Willson Contreras' 491-foot blast in Game 4 of the NLCS. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"I never expected that," Keuchel said. "This is their house and they play well here, so I expected something to happen. I didn't expect that to happen. I expected myself to get the job done. I regrouped pretty quickly. That was the first pitch of the first inning, so there was a lot of game left. We're a good team for a reason, we're here for a reason, but this was a tough one to swallow." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
Keuchel's two-out walk to Taylor in the sixth -- the only walk he issued -- proved costly. That set up Turner, who blasted a 1-2 pitch to left field for a two-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead, 3-1. Keuchel hadn't allowed two homers in a game since May 5 against the Angels in Anaheim. Turner has reached base safely in all nine games this postseason, and he has hit safely in 24 of his past 25 playoff games (since Game 1 of the 2015 NL Division Series). "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"Not too many guys can have that pedigree and be the kind of man he is. And I'm thankful that I've gotten to hang out with him for a little while." -- Kershaw, on his relationship with Koufax "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
"He's Clayton Kershaw, man. He's been like that his whole career." -- Altuve "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259587014/dodgers-homers-back-clayton-kershaw-in-game-1/
With the win Los Angeles takes a 1-0 lead in the World Series.
Los Angeles and Houston will play game two Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Right -hander Justin Verlander will get the start for Houston. He has a record of 15-8 with a 3.36 earn run average. The 2017 ALCS MVP held the Yankees to one earned run over 16 innings to record one of the finest single -series pitching performances ever, but Verlander hopes to shake off his career 7.20 ERA in three World Series starts with the Detroit Tigers. He will oppose Los Angeles left-hander Rich Hill who has a record of 12-8 with a 3.32 earn run average. The lefty makes his first World Series start after pitching in independent ball as recently as 2015. While Hill didn't exceed five innings in either of his first two postseason starts , he allowed only three runs on six hits combined in those outings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-dodgers/2017/10/25/526512#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526512
First pitch is set for 8:09pm. "according tohttp://www.espn.com/mlb/game?gameId=371025119 The game will be televised on Fox. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-dodgers/2017/10/25/526512#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526512