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Dodgers Weekend Showdown: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly

By Nate Eckert

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 17: Shortstop Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tries to put a tag on Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners at second base during the third inning of a game at Safeco Field on August 17, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. Haniger was safe on the play after second baseman Brian Dozier #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped a pop fly in short right field. The Dodgers won the game 11-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 17: Shortstop Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tries to put a tag on Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners at second base during the third inning of a game at Safeco Field on August 17, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. Haniger was safe on the play after second baseman Brian Dozier #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped a pop fly in short right field. The Dodgers won the game 11-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 9: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 9, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Kershaw had a 5-spot to open his start Sunday. The lead was provided by a Bellinger 2-run single, a Kiké RBI single, and a Puig 2-run single. As I watched the opening inning of Game 3 I thought to myself, “Whoa! Who needs a ‘moment’ when you’re crushing the ball like these guys are?”

Further, I began to wonder if this was actually the moment, coming back after a figurative gut-punch the likes of which haven’t been felt in months, maybe even, since Game 7 of the World Series.

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This moment, opening Game 3 with your ace about to take the hill, was a moment to be sure. Will it be “the” moment? I supposed that is for us to wait and see. One thing was certain though, Clayton Kershaw was not about to squander any amount of that lead away. 

Kershaw threw his 4-seam with utter perfection. His windup, delivery, and arm-angle are something from a storybook. Match that with his robotically-charged gamer-mentality, grit, and overall genius, and the M’s didn’t know who or what had hit them.

This was a very satisfying win for the Dodgers and for Clayton Kershaw because typically it’s Kershaw who gets the 7 innings of no support. Of course, Sunday afternoon was not “typical” in any sense. The final score was 12-0. Within an hour of that game, the M’s knew they were toast. 

In the end, what did I see? I saw two clubs, one left with momentum and plenty of fire in their tank. When the Dodgers are clicking on all cylinders, there’s not another team in baseball that can beat us. This is the truth.

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The question is, however, now with Kenley back and ready to roll, exactly how much longer are we going to take before we’re in our championship strut? You know, when all things are clicking without having to endure another infamous balk-off? Hopefully not too long. 

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