Clayton Kershaw Throws Eephus Pitch [VIDEO]
PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — Yasmani Grandal doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a not-quite-overpowering performance by Clayton Kershaw, beating the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Thursday.
Enrique Hernandez singled with one out against Alexi Ogando (1-1) and came around to score on Grandal's shot off the center-field wall. Chris Hatcher (2-1) worked a scoreless ninth before Kenley Jansen earned his seventh save.
Coming off his first career save, Matt Wisler pitched four-hit ball over 6 2-3 innings for the Braves.
Both teams scored in the first, and that was it until Grandal gave the Dodgers their second straight extra-inning win over the Braves.
Kershaw came in with a 1.64 ERA. The Braves got to the three-time Cy Young winner for 10 hits in eight innings, only the fourth time in 246 career starts that he's given up double figures. He struck out 10.
Over his first three starts of the season, Kershaw surrendered a total of 10 hits in 22 innings.
Kershaw was thrown out at the plate to end the seventh, costing the Dodgers the go-ahead run. Atlanta squandered plenty of chances, most notably a base-loaded opportunity with no outs in the second. Mallex Smith struck out and Wisler grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Wisler, returning to the rotation with an extra day of rest after earning an impromptu save in an emergency relief appearance on Tuesday, walked two, struck out six and didn't allow an earned run.
The Dodgers jumped ahead in the first off a throwing error by third baseman Adonis Garcia, who sailed it high and wide of first after fielding Corey Seager's grounder. Seager stole second and came home on Joc Pederson's two-out single.
Atlanta quickly tied it up in the bottom half. Erick Aybar led off with a double down the left-field line, and Daniel Castro followed with another double to center field, the ball just out of reach of a lunging Pederson. Castro tried to stretch it into a triple, but he was thrown out at third.
The Braves challenged, believing Castro got a foot on the bag ahead of the tag, but the call was upheld after a video review.
Los Angeles lost a challenge of its own after Kershaw was thrown out. The pitcher reached base when Smith and Jeff Francoeur collided in right center, allowing a routine flyball to drop with two outs, Chase Utley walked and Seager singled to right field. Making up for his error, Francoeur rifled a throw to the plate, and catcher Tyler Flowers tagged out the sliding Kershaw.
After a review of 4 1-2 minutes, the umpires signaled Kershaw was indeed out.
TRAINING ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Pedro Baez underwent the concussion protocol after being struck in the back of the head by a ball while teammate Adam Liberatore was warming up in the bullpen during Wednesday night's game. "He feels much better today," manager Dave Roberts said. ... OF Carl Crawford (lower back irritation) will be rejoining the Dodgers on Monday after an injury rehab stint in the minors. Crawford's comeback was delayed by travel issues, but he's set to play two games for Triple-A Oklahoma City and one game at Class A Rancho Cucamonga.
Braves: Garcia was back in the lineup after being scratched the previous day with a bruised left knee, the result of being hit by a pitch from Alex Wood on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir (1-1, 6.43 ERA) will face Colorado on Friday to start a three-game series. His only career start against the Rockies came in 2007, when he picked up the win by allowing three runs in six innings.
Braves: RHP Bud Norris (1-1, 6.23) will make his fourth start in the opener of a weekend series against the New York Mets. He took the loss in his only appearance against the Mets last season and hasn't beaten New York since Aug. 9, 2010, while with the Astros.
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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry.
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