Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers survive 8th-inning blip to beat Padres

Clayton Kershaw was literally hopping mad on Saturday night, but for the most part took things out on the Padres in a 10-2 win by the Dodgers on Saturday night at Petco Park in San Diego.

The bulk of Kershaw’s ire was reserved for the eighth inning, when the game was seemingly well in hand. Kershaw allowed a home run to extra-base hit magnet Ryan Schmipf to start the inning, spoiling his shutout.

But then Kershaw walked Manuel Margot, Kershaw’s third walk of the night, matching his total for the season entering Saturday. One out later, a 1-2 pitch to Wil Myers looked like it might produce Kershaw’s 10th strikeout of the game. Instead, it was called a ball, and Kershaw jumped off the mound in disgust.

Myers eventually walked, giving Kershaw four on the night, the first time he walked four since May 10, 2015. It was the first time he had four unintentional walks in a game since April 23, 2013.

The other runners that did reach base against Kershaw — there were also two Dodgers errors — weren’t able to do much damage, thanks to a pair of double plays turned by the Dodgers, and this great throw by Kike Hernandez in the first inning:

Hernandez, starting in center field with left-hander Clayton Richard on the mound for San Diego, also had a two-run double in the fifth, which gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead.

Kershaw ended his night throwing a season-high 118 pitches in 7⅓ innings, including 22 pitches in the eighth inning that started with a five-run advantage. After Kershaw exited, Pedro Baez also walked a batter, bringing Hunter Renfroe to the plate as the tying run.

Kenley Jansen was summoned to clean up the mess, which he did with a strikeout of Renfroe. It was the ninth consecutive batter struck out by Jansen, over his last five appearances, tying Aaron Harang for the franchise record for consecutive strikeouts.

Jansen even got to bat in the Dodgers’ five-run ninth, then with a nine-run lead went out for the ninth because saves exist. He allowed a single to Jabari Blash to open the ninth, snapping the strikeout streak, but then struck out two more in the inning.

On the season, Jansen has 23 strikeouts and no walks. He has faced 46 batters.

He also threw 33 pitches on Saturday, the bulk of them with a nine-run lead, and left with two outs in the ninth.

Bellinger, again

Cody Bellinger struck again on Saturday. He drove in the Dodgers first run of the game with a single in the fourth inning, but the big blow came later. His grand slam in the ninth inning put the game away, his third home run in two games.

Bellinger is the first Dodger with five home runs in his first 11 career games.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Cody Bellinger (5); Ryan Schmipf (8)

WP - Clayton Kershaw (5-2): 7⅓ IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts

LP - Clayton Richard (2-4): 5 IP, 7 hits, 5 runs, 6 walks, 5 strikeouts