Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw had a night to forget against the Phillies in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The future Hall of Famer was far from his best, giving up several hits during his appearance on the mound, and he received a lot of criticism, which was dismissed by Mookie Betts, Kershaw’s teammate who came to his defense.
The MLB Division Series is underway and among the hottest bat-and-ball clashes is the one between the Dodgers and Phillies. The Los Angeles team had a 2-0 advantage with the chance to sweep their opponent to advance to the next phase of the league. However, the Pennsylvania team won Game 3 on October 8, extending the series to a fourth game (at least) that will be played today at 6:00 p.m. ET.
“He’s going to have a statue in front of Dodger Stadium” – Mookie Betts on Kershaw
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. It was Los Angeles’ first loss of the postseason, and they can still advance to the National League Championship Series with a win on Thursday. Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw squandered a sweep opportunity with a brutal relief outing, but Mookie Betts came to his defense.
If you let two innings ruin that, then you don’t know baseball
“We can’t use two innings. He’s going to have a statue in front of Dodger Stadium. Kershaw is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. One of the best pitchers to ever do it. If you let two innings ruin that, then you don’t know baseball,” Betts said. Such statements would make a lot of sense, as the legend Kershaw will be hard to erase by some mistakes at this stage.
Kershaw came out of the Dodgers bullpen in the seventh inning with Los Angeles down 3-1. He got through the seventh inning, getting Brandon Marsh to line out with the bases loaded. But he wasn’t so lucky in the eighth with JT Realmuto leading off the inning with a solo home run. Trea Turner hit a two-run single just before Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run home run, breaking the game open.
Clayton Kershaw would be ready for Game 4 against Philadelphia Phillies
For his part, Kershaw was not discouraged by the poor performance he showed during Game 3 of the Division Series against the Phillies. With the serenity that characterizes him, the pitcher expressed his focus on the future: “That’s the great thing about baseball, there’s a game every day. Game 4, I’ll be ready.” Despite the disappointment, Kershaw showed his determination to redeem himself in the next game.
For his part, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, conscious of the importance of keeping morale high, also backed his star. “Kershaw has been instrumental to our success for years. One bad night does not define his career,” he said, ensuring that the team is united, ready to face the challenge ahead and eager to get into the next rounds of the league.
Dodgers fans know that baseball is a sport of ups and downs, and although the defeat was tough, they trust that the team can recover. With players like Betts and Kershaw leading the way, the hope of advancing in the playoffs is still alive. The next game will be crucial for the Dodgers, who will look to adjust their strategy and prove that they are a team capable of overcoming adversity.
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