Clayton Kershaw In Control Against Young Reds Graham Ashcraft Knocked Out

 

Three time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw prevented a Reds comeback after the Los Angeles Dodgers salvaged the final game of the three-game series, 6-0.

Kershaw improved to 8-4 on the season and dropped his ERA to 2.95 with seven shut out innings. He scattered five hits and struck out nine, giving him an even 2,900 for his career. He is 100 strikeouts away from becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000.

"We've seen Kershaw quite a bit. He had different shapes on his slider. We really didn't have an answer for it. We give him a lot of credit. To find ways to improve at this point in his career is very impressive," David Bell said.

The Dodgers scored first for the third straight game. This time it was the third inning. This time they held the lead after losing two games on Reds' comebacks. The Dodgers did not score after the fourth inning in the entire series.

Graham Ashcraft had two scoreless innings in the book but he hit rookie James Outman to open the inning. Austin Barnes hit a ball off Ashcraft's calf. The pitcher recorded the out but was measurably hobbled. He hit Mookie Betts in front of Freddie Freeman's RBI single to left. One out later Max Muncy walked to load the bases. David Peralta's second hit of the game plated two runs to put the Dodgers ahead, 3-0.

"Graham wasn't feeling it while he was making his pitches," Bell said. "He felt it walking around. I knew he wouldn't be able to go much deeper in the game than we did."

Peralta had four singles in the game.

Fernando Cruz had to answer the call to relieved the hurting Ashcraft. Miguel Vargas flied out to end the inning.

Chris Taylor led off the fourth inning with his 10th home run. Outman walked. Barnes doubled him home. Betts singled in front of Frman's sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead. 

The Reds put a threat together in the sixth. Matt McLain and Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single to put runners at the corners. Kershaw struck out Elly De la Cruz and Tyler Stephenson around a pop up by Spencer Steer.

Alex Young, Eduardo Salazar and Ian Gibaut combined for five scoreless innings.

Tayler Scott, who was recalled when Noah Syndergaard was put on the injured list, allowed a double by McLain but struck out De la Cruz. He finished with two scoreless innings.

De la Cruz had an infield single but struck out in his last three at bats.