Clayton Kershaw readies for playoffs with victory over Diamondbacks
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, center, and the team celebrate after their 5-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw allowed one run in six innings with 10 strikeouts in a 5-2 win. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Emmanuel Rivera reacts as he walks back to the dugout after striking out during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws to the plate during their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo connects for a home run during the second inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo hits a solo home run off of Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, left, during the second inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo watches the flight of his solo home run during the second inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte voices his frustration as he walks back to the dugout after striking out during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw allowed one run in six innings with 10 strikeouts in a 5-2 win. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker voices his frustration as he walks back to the dugout after striking out during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, right, is out at second base as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte throws on to first for a double play during the third inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy, left, gestures after hitting a double as Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo takes the throw from the outfield during the fourth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy scores on a single by Joey Gallo, not pictured, during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor heads to first after hitting a three-run home run off of Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, left, during the fourth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, right, rounds first base as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker watches after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo scores on a home run by Chris Taylor, not pictured, during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Players and coaches in the Dodgers’ bullpen talk to a fan who appeared to have interfered with a ball hit for a three-run home run by the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans cheer following a review that confirmed a three-run home run by the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor after a fan appeared to have interfered with the ball during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, right, slaps hands with third base coach Dino Ebel as he circles the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor has water poured over his head by teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, right, slides before being tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly while trying to score on a single by Gavin Lux during the eighth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly tags the Dodgers’ Will Smith for an out as he tries to score during the eighth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith is tagged out at home by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly during the eighth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, left, is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly while trying to score on a single by Gavin Lux during the eighth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel prepares to throw to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas, right, is caught between second and third base after Sergio Alcantara grounded into a double play as Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy waits with the ball during the ninth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Rojas was eventually tagged out by Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner runs down the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas to complete a double play during the ninth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner tags the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas after a rundown to complete a double play during the ninth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers outfielders Joey Gallo, left, and Cody Bellinger celebrate after the final out of the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers congratulate each other after they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2, on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New Lakers head coach Darvin Ham throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Lakers head coach Darvin Ham throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Lakers head coach Darvin Ham gestures after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES ― Twice this year, Clayton Kershaw needed several weeks on the injured list to recuperate from a lower back injury. Twice, the Dodgers insisted the injury was only significant if it hindered Kershaw when the season mattered most: in October.
With two weeks and two days remaining in the regular season, No. 22 was equal parts resilient and effective against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kershaw allowed one run in six innings in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win before an announced crowd of 44,854 on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers’ 102nd win of the season officially clinched a first-round postseason bye. They will have five days off between their regular-season finale and hosting Game 1 of a best-of-five National League Division Series on Oct. 11.
Kershaw’s zero-walk, 10-strikeout performance was a testament to his command. He fed the Diamondbacks a heavy diet of sliders and fastballs and recorded nine of his 10 strikeouts with one pitch or the other.
The one curveball he threw for strike three ended a 12-pitch duel with Christian Walker in the fourth inning.
“It was time to throw a curveball,” Kershaw said. “I’d thrown fastballs and sliders basically the whole at-bat. Will (Smith, the Dodgers’ catcher) had actually called curveball the pitch before. I shook him off. He fouled off another slider. I was like, well, it’s time.”
No player has batted more than 25 times against Kershaw with a higher on-base plus slugging percentage than Walker (1.068 through Sunday). Kershaw said that one at-bat “probably cost me an inning there.”
Kershaw recovered to complete six innings against the same team he faced in his previous start. He threw 94 pitches, the most he’s thrown in a game since returning from the injured list on Sept. 1.
In a way, Manager Dave Roberts said, the back-to-back outings against Arizona could help prepare Kershaw to face one team twice in a best-of-seven playoff series.
“How (Kershaw) exploited some weaknesses and used his entire arsenal tonight allows for unpredictability,” Roberts said. “When you talk about the postseason, people rely on predictability in game-planning. A guy like Clayton who’s got four pitches, to kind of use different quadrants and lanes keeps guys on their toes.”
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Joey Gallo’s 18th home run of the season, a massive 437-foot shot that landed just beyond the last row of bleacher seats in right field.
Four more runs scored in the fourth inning to put the game away. Gallo kicked things off by following a Max Muncy double with an RBI single to the right-center field gap, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Gavin Lux singled on the next pitch from right-hander Merrill Kelly (12-7), moving Gallo to third base. Chris Taylor, who was coming off an 0-for-4, three-strikeout performance in San Francisco on Sunday night, smashed Kelly’s next pitch over the left field fence. The only question was how it got over.
The hit was initially ruled a double. The umpires then reviewed video of the ball barely clearing the short padded wall and bouncing off the midsection of a fan sitting in the first row of seats before bouncing back onto the field.
Taylor had a three-run home run after the brief delay, the Dodgers had a 5-0 lead, and the fan had a viral moment of infamy.
“It took me a second to see the replay,” Taylor said. “When I saw the replay I thought it was a homer, because it looked like it hit the guy in the chest. I wasn’t sure. I thought (the double call) still might stand just because of how replays have gone this year. You never know.”
Arizona scored its only run against Kershaw in the fifth inning. Carson Kelly led off with a double, went to third base on a single by Daulton Varsho, and scored when Geraldo Perdomo narrowly legged out a potential double-play groundout.
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Kershaw (9-3) lowered his ERA to 2.39, the lowest it’s been since July 15.
“Physically I feel great,” he said. “I’m in a good spot. This will by my first time on regular rest, pitching coming up against a good team in the Cardinals. That will be a good challenge, obviously. Got a couple more until October, so that’s good.”
Pitching the ninth inning in a non-save situation, Craig Kimbrel allowed the Diamondbacks to load the bases before he recorded an out. Sergio Alcantara then came to the plate representing the game-tying run.
Alcantara shot a hard ground ball into the teeth of the Dodgers’ left-handed shift, where Lux dove to his right to stop it from going to the outfield. The second baseman flipped it to shortstop Trea Turner covering second base, who ultimately tagged out Josh Rojas in a rundown between second and third.
Kimbrel then got Varsho to pop out to end the game.
“You don’t want to overthink too much. There’s only so many things I can do right. I don’t have too many tricks up my sleeve.” Clayton Kershaw speaks with @THEREAL_DV after 10 Ks and 0 walks through 6 innings against the D-Backs. pic.twitter.com/hTeYILFGWd
