Clayton Kershaw flirted with immortality and a high pitch count as he took to the mound in the eight inning leading 10 - 0. The game was not in doubt only his ability to limit his pitch count while keeping his no hitter in tact. Discussion was rampant in the True Blue press box with one side saying Torre would let him go until he gave up a hit and the other saying he'd take him out as soon as he walked one more batter.
Unfortunately, old friend Cody Ross made it a moot point blasting a head high fastball into the left field gap. Clayton was done but not before he had thrown 7 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and four walks. Coming into the game with a ERA over 9.00 on the road, Kershaw showed he is more then just a home cooking pitcher and gave notice to the rest of the league that the Dodger's might have the best young one two punch in baseball when Chad/Kershaw come to town.
Juan Pierre has been the butt of just about every possible joke on True Blue by writer and commentator ever since Ned Colletti signed him in the fall of 2006. Since Manny went on the suspended list he has been nothing short of amazing. HIs last 10 games:
| DATE | OPP | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/07/2009 | WSH | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .371 |
| 05/08/2009 | SF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .378 |
| 05/09/2009 | SF | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .405 |
| 05/10/2009 | SF | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .426 |
| 05/12/2009 | @PHI | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .404 |
| 05/13/2009 | @PHI | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .411 |
| 05/14/2009 | @PHI | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .383 |
| 05/15/2009 | @FLA | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .391 |
| 05/16/2009 | @FLA | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .406 |
| 05/17/2009 | @FLA | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .419 |
His wOBA was .460 headed into Sundays game and after three more hits he's probably flirting at .480. At some point Juan Pierre is going to cool off (.414 BABIP) but he has been a joy to watch for the last 10 games.
The Dodgers end their first Eastcoast road trip by winning both series and showing the league that even without Manny this is a team to be reckoned with. Maybe the crickets about their easy Western League schedule will cease for a little while.
The Marlins were so unimpressed with Koronka that he was waived after the game.