Kershaw racks up 10 K's as Dodgers top Rox

April 20th, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- A lineup filled with reserves provided enough support for and the Dodgers to beat the Rockies and left-handed starter , 4-2, Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw (3-1) struck out a season-high 10 and is 10-0 in his last 11 starts at home after allowing two runs over seven innings, with picking up his second four-out save in five days.
"With Clayton on the mound, that's a game we have to win," said manager Dave Roberts. "We talked before the game about using Kenley for four outs, with the day off tomorrow."

The Dodgers are 3-6 in games started by opposing lefties, with two of those wins against Anderson. Kershaw's lone loss this year was at Coors Field.
"He labored a little bit," Roberts said of Kershaw. "Tonight he really couldn't find his rhythm, but it's a credit to him to punch 10, walk one, give us seven quality innings. He does what he does."
Colorado's first three batters of the game reached to load the bases, but Kershaw limited the damage to a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from , sandwiched by a pair of strikeouts.
"We just couldn't tack on after that first run," said Rockies manager Bud Black. "[Kershaw] is tough."

, starting in left field for the Dodgers with on the disabled list, barreled a solo homer in the second inning off Anderson to tie the game. Van Slyke came into the game 2-for-17.
The Dodgers' three-run fifth inning included the first of two doubles by Chris Taylor (called up for the game to sub for the injured ), a double by (who also had a triple subbing for the injured ), an RBI single by and a costly throwing error by Anderson on Kershaw's sacrifice bunt. Colorado scored in the sixth on a double by DJ LeMahieu and an RBI single by Stephen Cardullo, who took over right field after bruised his right hand during a fourth-inning at-bat.
"You never know what to expect, but we know a little bit about C.T. [Taylor], and he put good at-bats together and helped us get some runs across," said Roberts. "For Scott to elevate it to the pull side and get that homer, that was big for us. Also, Kiké, who hasn't had his fair share of hits yet, put together big at-bats as well." 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
CarGo gone early: Gonzalez left the game during his fourth inning at-bat when he was hit on the right hand by a Kershaw pitch while trying to check his swing. On an appeal from plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, third-base umpire Paul Emmel called it a swing. Cardullo finished the at-bat, grounding out on a 1-2 pitch. The Rockies announced Gonzalez had a bruised hand and that X-rays were negative. More >

Error proves costly: The Dodgers' three-run fifth inning was aided by Anderson's throwing error on Kershaw's sacrifice bunt. Anderson fielded the ball and pump-faked to third, where Chris Taylor was heading, then decided to throw to first and bounced it off the glove of Reynolds. Hernandez followed with a double that snapped the 1-1 tie. More >

QUOTABLE
"It's nice to get off to a good start. It takes a little of the pressure off." -- Taylor, who doubled twice after being called up before Wednesday night's game to replace the injured Forsythe
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Kershaw has struck out 10 or more hitters in a start 52 times. The Dodgers are 41-11 in those games.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: After playing 14 consecutive days to open the season, the Rockies are off on Thursday for the second time in four days. They open a three-game series at Coors Field at 6:40 p.m. MT on Friday with (1-2) starting against the Giants.
Dodgers: After a travel day on Thursday, the Dodgers open a road trip with a 6:40 p.m. PT game against Arizona, with Alex Wood starting in place of the injured Rich Hill. The Dodgers are hopeful that third baseman Justin Turner, hit by a pitch on the left hand Tuesday night, will be able to return to the lineup after missing Wednesday's game.
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