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Dodgers: Justin Turner’s NSFW Clayton Kershaw pep talk was awesome

By Adam Weinrib

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 25: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is taken out of the game by manager Dave Roberts as Justin Turner #10 looks on during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Five of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 25, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 25: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is taken out of the game by manager Dave Roberts as Justin Turner #10 looks on during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Five of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 25, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was spotted leading Clayton Kershaw to victory in NSFW fashion just before he was pulled.

After a disastrous Game 4 marked by one final Kenley Jansen implosion and the nonsensical play to end all nonsense plays, Dave Roberts pressed a number of very questionable buttons once more in Game 5.

Except this time, every decision dripped with honey, and Roberts ended the game feeling blessed and exhaling, one victory away from an elusive championship.

The first time Roberts’ judgment was called into question Sunday night came when Clayton Kershaw was pulled at 85 pitches with two outs in the sixth. The Hall of Fame lefty was coming off eight consecutive batters retired (one of them Manuel Margot on a straight steal of home), and was preparing to face Margot for a third time, who had reached safely twice on a walk and bunt.

Could Kershaw have gotten the hard-swinging righty? Sure. But Roberts has been burned in the past by leaving his lefty in playoff games too long, and didn’t want to tempt fate.

The logic of the decision did not deter Justin Turner from making his feelings known, though, as the Dodgers veteran was caught giving a little NSFW pep talk to Kershaw just before he was yanked from the game.

Attababy.

We believe that Kershaw could’ve retired that, um, melon farmer, too. He didn’t get the chance, and three tense innings followed, capped by Blake Treinen letting the leadoff man reach in the ninth before slamming the door shut.

Was it sweaty? Sure. But every pitcher who entered, from Dustin May to Victor Gonzalez to Treinen, did seem to be imbued with the same confidence that Turner showed in Kershaw.

They each had a few MFs to get out, and by golly, they got ’em out.

Now, one game after disaster struck, the Dodgers are on the precipice of doing something extremely special, and their fate could depend on a series of similar relievers carrying the load in Game 6. After all, there isn’t a horse like Kershaw to be found until Walker Buehler takes the mound in a theoretical Game 7.

If that time comes, you know the still-underrated Turner will bring the same attitude.

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