Dodgers Clayton Kershaw NLDS Chase by Diamondbacks

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw suffers a disastrous start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In a shocking turn of events, Dodgers' star pitcher Clayton Kershaw had a disastrous outing in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, known for his dominance on the mound, lasted just one out and gave up six runs before being pulled from the game.

This was a historic low for Kershaw, as he had never before pitched less than one inning in a start. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had expected Kershaw to throw around 85 pitches, but instead, he was gone after just 35. It was an unexpected and disappointing performance from the veteran pitcher.

The first inning proved to be Kershaw's downfall, as five batters came up and scored five runs without an out. He struggled to find his rhythm and had two strikes on five of the eight batters he faced. This marked the most runs allowed by Kershaw in any first inning of the franchise's postseason history.

Throughout his career, Kershaw has had a mixed record in the postseason. He entered this game with a playoff record of 13-12 and a 4.25 ERA. As he approaches free agency after this season, this performance may have implications for his future.

The Diamondbacks wasted no time in capitalizing on Kershaw's struggles. Ketel Marte led off the game with a double, thanks to a misplay by center fielder James Outman. Corbin Carroll followed with an RBI single, giving Arizona an early 1-0 lead.

The hits kept coming for the Diamondbacks, as Tommy Pham singled and Christian Walker doubled, extending their lead to 2-0. But the biggest blow came from Gabriel Moreno, who crushed a three-run homer to left field, putting the Dodgers in a deep 5-0 hole.

Finally, Kershaw managed to retire Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a groundout, but it took him 26 pitches to get the first out of the inning. This marked a historic feat, as he became the first starting pitcher in MLB postseason history to allow five hits and five runs before recording an out.

To add insult to injury, Kershaw then walked Alek Thomas, setting up Evan Longoria's RBI double to left-center field. The Diamondbacks' lead grew to a staggering 6-0, prompting Roberts to make the difficult decision to remove Kershaw from the game.

As Kershaw walked off the mound, his head hung low, a symbol of his frustration and disappointment. Rookie Emmet Sheehan took over on the mound and quickly recorded two outs to end the inning, striking out Geraldo Perdomo and retiring Marte on a groundout.

This unexpected turn of events left fans and analysts stunned. Kershaw's struggles in the postseason have been well-documented, but this outing was particularly devastating. It remains to be seen how this performance will impact his future with the Dodgers and his impending free agency.

In the world of baseball, where anything can happen, this game serves as a reminder that even the most dominant players can have off days. It's a humbling experience for Kershaw and a testament to the unpredictable nature of the sport.