After taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning, momentum seemed to be on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ side in Game 1 of the NLCS. Los Angeles had Clayton Kershaw on the mound and momentum on their side, then everything unraveled.
It all started when relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff drilled a game-tying solo shot to center field. Kershaw allowed Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich to reach base, then a passed ball by Yasmani Grandal allowed of them to advance. Grandal’s passed ball would come back to bite Kershaw as a sacrifice fly drove in Cain to give Milwaukee its first lead of the game.
Things unraveled even more for Kershaw and Los Angeles’ defense in the fourth inning. Kershaw walked Manny Pina then gave up a single to Orlando Arcia. Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor misplayed the ball in left field and his error put runners on second and third with no outs.
As Ryan Madson warmed up in the bullpen, Brewers outfielder Domingo Santana drilled a two-run single to expand Milwaukee’s lead and chase Kershaw from Game 1 of the NLCS in the fourth inning.
As he walked off the mound with six hits, two walks and five runs (four earned) allowed in three-plus innings, Twitter reacted to another bizarre postseason start for one of the best pitchers in this decade.
Clayton Kershaw is done. He recorded no outs in the fourth inning. Ryan Madson will replace him.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 13, 2018
It was just a few weeks ago that the #SFGiants got five runs off Kershaw, so the fact that an MLB team with a real offense is doing this isn't a big surprise.
— Wendy Thurm (@wendythurm.bsky.social) (@wendythurm) October 13, 2018
I feel like early poor showings for Kershaw in postseason were just random and now his stuff is not as good and he’ll just get creamed by the narrative between those two facts
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) October 13, 2018
maybe Kershaw will sign with the Reds this offseason since he wouldn't have to worry about pitching in the playoffs
— Sr VP of ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@RedsGM) October 13, 2018
Kershaw is straight 🚮🚮🚮🚮 tonight
— Grand Admiral Marc 🍇 (@marcb0t) October 13, 2018
I love playoff Clayton Kershaw – all @SFGiants fans. 😂😂
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) October 13, 2018
Brewers take a 4-1 lead and knock Clayton Kershaw out in the 4th…
"Playoff Kershaw is a thing of the past." pic.twitter.com/ZMoUO2aA1K
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) October 13, 2018
Clayton Kershaw, when he sees Yasmani Grandal in the clubhouse #NLCS pic.twitter.com/rD03fmpdDe
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) October 13, 2018