I don't have much to say about tonight's 2-1 loss to the Braves, other than I was happy to finally see a Clayton Kershaw signature performance in person. I have been to a ton of Randy Wolf and Hiroki Kuroda starts this year, but tonight I was treated to quite a performance. Kershaw was dominant over his seven innings, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out ten Braves.
But the Dodgers couldn't score for him. Kershaw has received five runs of support in his last four starts, so despite his 1.80 ERA during that time he has zero wins. In Kershaw's three best games this season, including the 13-strikeout game in April and the eight shutout innings in St. Louis last week, Kershaw has pitched a total of 22 innings, given up one run, yet has zero wins to show for it.
Kelly Johnson struck again tonight, with a two-run home run off Guillermo Mota in the 10th inning, just as the Dodger Stadium scoreboards showed his ERA a tick under 3.00. The Dodgers came close in the bottom of the inning, but Yunel Escobar saved the day on Matt Kemp's groundball up the middle, first by saving it from getting to the outfield, and then by somehow throwing out a speeding Bison at first base.
The Dodgers dropped to 17-4 in one-run games at home, and 23-13 overall in one-run games on the season.
I have no idea what to expect for tomorrow, except that Javier Vazquez starts for Atlanta. I know Eric Stults has been announced as the starter tomorrow, even after only two days rest from a 61-pitch effort on Thursday with the Isotopes, but stop me if you've heard this before.
On Friday, Scott Elbert was announced as the starter for Sunday's game, and he proceeded to pitch that night, giving up the game-winning hit and a three-run home run. He is now back in Albquerque.
On Saturday before the game, Jeff Weaver was announced as the starter for Sunday's game, and yet there he was, out of necessity, warming up in the bullpen in the 10th inning.
Call me skeptical, but I'll accept an announced Dodger starter for tomorrow's game when I see it with my own eyes.
WP - Kris Medlen (3-3): 2 IP, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
LP - Guillermo Mota (3-3): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Sv - Rafael Soriano (17): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout