Kershaw makes statement as LA goes up 2-0

This browser does not support the video element.

LOS ANGELES -- Following Hyun Jin Ryu with Clayton Kershaw not only worked for the Dodgers, it was historic.
Kershaw threw a two-hitter over eight innings and rode home runs from Manny Machado and Yasmani Grandal to a 3-0 win over the Braves on Friday night in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. Following a 6-0 Game 1 win, the Dodgers joined the 1921 New York Yankees as the only teams to open a postseason series with back-to-back shutouts.
:: NLDS schedule and results ::
The Dodgers need just one win to advance to their third straight NL Championship Series. They're now 7-2 overall against the Braves this year, including 3-1 at SunTrust Park, where the series resumes Sunday after a Saturday travel day.
Management's decision to hold back Kershaw for an extra day of rest resulted in a commanding 2-0 series lead. It also resulted in Kershaw's longest and best postseason start against an aggressive Braves lineup that was reduced to soft contact, when it had any. It was the longest scoreless postseason start for the Dodgers since Jose Lima's shutout of the Cardinals in 2004.
"He pitched," manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw, who has allowed one earned run in 21 career postseason innings against Atlanta. "For me, one of the best outings I've seen that I can recall. He changed speeds, used both sides of the plate and changed eye levels. There was soft contact and he was in complete control. You've got Sandy Koufax in the front row and he was outstanding."
Kershaw gets ovation from Koufax after start

This browser does not support the video element.

After closer Kenley Jansen locked down the game with a scoreless ninth inning, the Dodgers can fly cross-country supremely confident. In a five-game series with the 2-2-1 format, teams that have won the first two games at home have won the series 24 of 27 times (89 percent).

This browser does not support the video element.

Maybe being passed over for Ryu in Game 1 shifted Kershaw's competitive juices into overdrive, or maybe the Braves were just overmatched, but Kershaw with only three strikeouts was just as effective as Ryu (who fanned eight in seven innings) in his first scoreless start since the All-Star break. Kershaw needed only 85 pitches and received a loud ovation when he came out for the ninth inning, but it was merely a ruse to lure the Braves into burning an extra pinch-hitter and Jansen came on.

This browser does not support the video element.

Did Kershaw draw added satisfaction from his performance after being dissed on the Game 1 start? You betcha.
"Yeah, maybe. Maybe a tick, for sure," he said with a smile. "But you know, Ryu threw so unbelievable last night that you just want to match him, that's all I was trying to do, just put our team in a good spot and defend home field when you have it. Game 1, Game 2, whatever. I'm getting to pitch in the playoffs and I'm excited about that."

This browser does not support the video element.

Roberts, who delivered the news to Kershaw of the Game 1 snub on a conference call, said the lefty's ability to set aside distractions was impressive, but not surprising.
"This guy is a potential Hall of Fame player," Roberts said. "So to have the noise around him, but when it comes to his day to start and to help his ballclub win a game, I had no concern that anything was going to affect him. I feel good, we feel good that we put both those guys in the best position to pitch well."
Roberts said one factor in the decision to send Kershaw out for the ninth as a decoy and not let him finish the game was a tightening left hamstring that resulted from an Ozzie Albies line drive in the sixth inning. Kershaw said it hit the belly of the muscle, which was sore, but he didn't expect it to affect his availability to pitch.

This browser does not support the video element.

Ronald Acuña Jr. drilled Kershaw's first pitch of the game for a double to left-center. Kershaw not only stranded Acuna at third base with a knee-buckling called strike three on Nick Markakis to end the first inning, he went on to retire 14 consecutive batters until Ender Inciarte's infield single off Kershaw's hand with two out in the fifth inning.

This browser does not support the video element.

Braves miss chance for 'release' as 1st fizzles
While Kershaw has turned into a breaking-ball pitcher this year, some scouting reports haven't caught up to the transformation.
"That was a totally different Kershaw than I've ever seen," said Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. "Usually, he's at 94-96 mph with an 88 mph slider and a big curveball. I saw one curveball tonight and I saw 90 mph heaters. It was just kind of weird. We were hitting the ball in play. We were just hitting weak ground balls and popups.
"Our gameplan in our meeting today told us to come out swinging early. The analytics from our meeting told us he throws a lot of heaters. Ronald jumped on that. Johan [Camargo] did that and then all of a sudden those analytics went out the door because he started throwing sliders and all that, and that's why he's Clayton Kershaw."

Kershaw had an early lead on Machado's two-run homer, which cashed in Joc Pederson's double leading off the first. Braves starter Aníbal Sánchez tried to pitch around Machado and fell behind in the count, 3-0. He threw a cutter down, but Machado reached for it and wristed it over the fence. It was Machado's eighth hit (and fourth homer) in 16 at-bats off Sanchez.

This browser does not support the video element.

"I have the option of walking him," said Braves manager Brian Snitker. "That's my fault right there. But I just assumed right there -- and the pitch he hit was, I mean, most guys don't get that ball. But I could take it out of his hands, too."
Young fan celebrated his birthday by catching Machado's homer
Grandal, snapping an 0-for-20 hitless streak in the postseason, led off the bottom of the fifth with a shot into the right-field pavilion on an 0-2 pitch, projected by Statcast™ at 419 feet.

This browser does not support the video element.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Kershaw pointed out second baseman Kiké Hernández's stab of Freeman's sharp grounder with one out, Acuna on third base and the infield in. Hernandez threw out Freeman for the second out and Kershaw caught Markakis looking to escape the jam. It was the only time the Braves had a runner on third base while Kershaw was in the game.

This browser does not support the video element.

"Any time you can get out of that first inning without giving up a run is huge, especially as the home team. Giving your guys a chance to score first is always really important," said Kershaw. "I was fortunate to get out of that and Kiké made a nice play on Freddie there."
SOUND SMART
Pederson led off the first inning with a double and scored on Machado's homer, extending Pederson's streak of recording at least one hit and scoring at least one run to eight consecutive postseason games, tied for third-longest in MLB history, most recently by Daniel Murphy in 2016.
HE SAID IT
"Did you want Daddy to finish? See, she knows, She knows." -- Kershaw, who asked 3-year-old daughter Cali if she wanted her father to be allowed to finish the game, and Cali shook her head and said, "No"
Kershaw asked his kids if they wanted him to go for the shutout

This browser does not support the video element.

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com