PHOENIX — Over the course of 400 career starts, Clayton Kershaw was bound to develop a few bad trends.
And as he reached his latest milestone moment Friday, becoming just the 34th pitcher in MLB history to make 400 starts with the same team, one of his shortcomings returned.
As has been the case in most of his 22 trips to Chase Field, Kershaw struggled in the desert in a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In six innings, the left-hander gave up four runs on seven hits. It was the last two, however, that left him shaking his head.
With the Dodgers leading 3-2 through five innings — thanks to a sacrifice fly from J.D. Martinez and solo home runs by James Outman and Chris Taylor — Kershaw gave up back-to-back blasts to lead off the sixth.
The first was a down-and-in slider that Evan Longoria sent up and out to left field. The next came on a fastball to Arizona rookie Corbin Carroll, who launched a solo drive.
“I did a lot of things I shouldn’t, especially when your team grinds and gives you the lead like that,” Kershaw said. “The first couple innings, they got some runs, some ground-ball hits, some things you really can’t do a whole lot about. But those homers there to give up the lead, you’ve got to do better than that.”
With Friday’s loss, Kershaw’s career ERA at Chase Field climbed to 3.91 — trailing only Coors Field in Denver and PNC Park in Pittsburgh for the highest mark in his career (minimum three outings).
Is there an extra challenge for Kershaw pitching in Arizona’s hitter-friendly stadium?
“No,” he said flatly.
Dave Roberts’ take?
“I don’t know,” the manager said. “I’ve seen him pitch well in the desert, as far as spring training, so it’s the same climate, altitude, air. So I don’t know if it’s something about him being here.”
Whatever the cause, it proved costly on a night the Dodgers went quiet in four-plus innings against Arizona’s bullpen — including a squandered bases-loaded opportunity in the fifth — and saw their three-game win streak come to an end.
