LOS ANGELES (AP) — Beat up within the postseason over time, Clayton Kershaw orchestrated one among his finest performances in opposition to the weakened Milwaukee Brewers.

Kershaw struck out 13 whereas delivering eight innings of three-hit ball, Mookie Betts hit a two-out, two-run double within the fifth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers gained 3-Zero to brush their NL wild-card sequence on Thursday night time.

”This was a enjoyable night time for me,” stated Kershaw, who displayed a uncommon smile on the mound. ”Get the postseason off to a great begin. It is a good first step for positive.”

The eight-time West champion Dodgers superior to the NL Division Collection in Arlington, Texas, and can play both the St. Louis Cardinals or San Diego Padres, who meet in a deciding Sport Three on Friday.

Kershaw’s strikeouts had been a playoff profession excessive and probably the most by a Dodgers pitcher within the postseason since his mentor Sandy Koufax had 15 in Sport 1 of the 1963 World Collection in opposition to the Yankees.

”That was fairly spectacular, for positive,” Betts stated. ”He gave us all of the alternatives on the earth to capitalize.”

Kershaw issued his lone stroll to Luis Urias within the eighth and promptly picked him off when a diving Urias could not get again to the bag. The Brewers misplaced their problem of the decision.

”Kershaw was simply decided,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. ”He gave us all he had and all we would have liked.”

Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Younger Award winner, confirmed not one of the fallibility that is plagued his postseason profession. He got here in with a 9-11 report and 4.43 ERA within the playoffs. A yr in the past, he got here on in reduction of starter Walker Buehler in opposition to Washington, gave up back-to-back homers and was eliminated in Sport 5 of the Division Collection.

This time, he had his manner with the beleaguered Brewers. He gave up singles to Jedd Gyorko, Urias and Keston Hiura.

”Offensively, it was a battle,” Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell stated. ”Kershaw, he was distinctive. His slider was pretty much as good as I keep in mind it.”

Neither staff managed to hit a ball laborious as Brandon Woodruff and Kershaw dueled by way of 4 innings. Solely two of the Dodgers’ 9 hitters did not strike out throughout that span; 5 of the Brewers did not.

After main the majors with 118 dwelling runs this season, Los Angeles managed only one hit by way of 4 innings, a single by Austin Barnes, earlier than breaking out within the fifth with a trio of singles.

Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor had back-to-back singles up the center with one out. AJ Pollock grounded right into a fielder’s selection to 3rd and Urias stepped on the bag to drive Bellinger and fired to first. However Gyorko could not deal with the throw in time to finish the double play.

”It is a tough play. We simply did not make it,” Counsell stated, ”and it ended up costing us as a result of they seem to be a good staff.”

Barnes singled with two outs to arrange Betts, who doubled sharply down the third-base line. The ball rolled into the left-field nook and three runs scored to chase Woodruff.

Woodruff allowed three runs and 5 hits in Four 2/Three innings. The correct-hander struck out a profession postseason excessive of 9 in opposition to no walks. As he was strolling off the mound after being changed, Woodruff shouted expletives and gestured angrily within the path of plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, who tossed him. Woodruff grew upset when a 1-2 pitch to Barnes was known as a ball.

”I believed it was a strike,” Woodruff stated. ”Simply the warmth of the second and actually wanting to place up a zero, at that second I knew that that would have been a giant turning level with that decision. That is why the response was what it was.”

Brusdar Graterol pitched the ninth to earn his first profession save for the Dodgers, with veteran nearer Kenley Jansen watching from the bullpen. Graterol allowed a single, the Brewers’ fourth hit of the sport.

Milwaukee by no means received above .500 all season and posted a dropping report earlier than eking into the expanded postseason because the No. eight seed.

”Each time your season involves an finish, it is a bummer,” stated Christian Yelich, who was Zero for Four with two strikeouts. ”It is a bummer as a result of it is by no means the identical staff the subsequent yr. We went by way of so much as a gaggle. I am undoubtedly happy with the blokes.”

As if the Brewers did not have sufficient accidents already, catcher Jacob Nottingham received damage and left the sport within the sixth.

Slugger Ryan Braun sat out the sport with a strained indirect that he initially injured final weekend and re-aggravated crashing into the suitable subject wall in a 4-2 loss in Sport 1 on Wednesday. Milwaukee performed the sequence with out its prime pitcher Corbin Burnes and prime reliever Devin Williams, who’re each damage.

Story continues

HOME FIELD, NOT REALLY

The Dodgers had the perfect report in baseball at 43-17 in the course of the shortened 60-game season, and earned home-field benefit all through the postseason. However from right here on out, they’re going to be taking part in their video games in Texas. That is the place the NL Division Collection and NL Championship Collection will likely be contested, in addition to the primary impartial website World Collection.

FAULTY MIC

Justin Turner wore an earpiece throughout Sport 1 for ESPN’s broadcast. He was seen fidgeting with it whereas taking part in third base, making an attempt to maintain it in his ear. Roberts discovered in regards to the association an hour earlier than gametime. ”I am not a fan of it,” Roberts stated. ”Going ahead, I do not need our guys to try this.” He stated it was a choice Turner made on his personal.

”I would not thoughts if Yelich did it or any staff that we’re taking part in,” Roberts stated.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Host Oakland of their spring coaching opener on Feb. 27.

Dodgers: Open the NL Division Collection on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

—

Extra AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports activities