Dodgers pitchers continue stingy ways

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ pitching staff has been incredibly stingy throughout this postseason, but in Game 1 of the World Series they took it to a whole new level in their win over the Astros.

Though nine games this postseason the Dodgers have allowed 20 total runs, an average of just 2.22 per game. They have put the clamps down in potential scoring situations, holding their opponents to just 1-for-23 (.043) with a walk and nine strikeouts.

The one hit was a three-run home run by Brandon Drury in Game 2 of the NLDS against Brandon Morrow, accounting for the only three earned runs allowed by the Dodgers bullpen this postseason, in 30⅔ innings.

“I think they do a good job of trusting what they’re going to do,” catcher Austin Barnes said. “Their minds are clear and they are just executing. We’re very confident with whoever is coming out of the pen.”

Since that hit, opposing batters are 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position against the Dodgers. That includes the Cubs going 0-for-14 during the NLCS in such situations. Tuesday night marked the seventh straight game that the Dodgers didn’t surrender a hit with runners in scoring position, but get this: the Astros only had one player even reach second base in Game 1, and that was Alex Bregman as he was trotting around the bases on his home run.

The Astros never had an at-bat with runners in scoring position in Game 1.

Hitting a home run is just about the only way to score against the Dodgers this postseason. They have allowed 15 home runs as a staff, which accounts for all but one of their 20 runs allowed. Arizona scored an unearned run on an RBI ground out against Kenley Jansen in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Clayton Kershaw allowed the home run to Bregman and has allowed seven home runs in his four starts, matching the most home runs allowed by any one pitcher in a single postseason. Yet he has only allowed eight runs total in those four starts.