Kershaw pitches Dodgers to win over Mets


Reuters | Updated: 14-09-2019 08:25 IST | Created: 14-09-2019 08:23 IST
Kershaw pitches Dodgers to win over Mets
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Clayton Kershaw snapped a three-start losing streak by tossing 6 1/3 solid innings Friday night when Gavin Lux gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the lead for good by hitting a three-run homer in the fourth inning of a 9-2 win over the host New York Mets. The Dodgers (96-53), who clinched their seventh straight National League West title on Tuesday night, have won eight of 11. The loss damaged the playoff hopes for the Mets (76-71), who had their four-game winning streak snapped and fell three games behind the Chicago Cubs in the race for the second NL wild card.

Kershaw (14-5) gave up a one-out homer to J.D. Davis in the first inning but twice retired eight in a row -- from the first through fourth and then from the fourth through seventh -- before exiting with a 7-1 lead after allowing three straight baserunners in the seventh. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five and throwing a season-high 105 pitches. Joe Kelly induced pinch-hitter, Brandon Nimmo, to hit into a forceout and gave up a two-out RBI single to Amed Rosario before retiring Davis on a grounder to leave the bases loaded.

With the win, Kershaw ensured he would not lose four straight starts -- or four straight decisions -- for the first time in his career. Kershaw, who had a 6.19 ERA in his previous three starts, also lost three straight starts from June 17-27, 2015. Mets starter Noah Syndergaard (10-8) nursed the 1-0 lead until the fourth when he walked Cody Bellinger with one out. Corey Seager singled and A.J. Pollock hit a game-tying RBI single before Lux homered to center field.

The Dodgers added insurance in the seventh when pinch-hitter Chris Taylor (two-run double) and Bellinger (single) had back-to-back RBI hits, and the eighth, when Edwin Rios hit a two-run pinch-hit homer. Syndergaard gave up four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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