Hernández: Clayton Kershaw’s competitive fire rages even as Dodger fans show him love

As Clayton Kershaw descended the mound, the followers rose to their toes.

By the point Kershaw crossed foul territory on his method to his staff’s dugout Monday evening, most of Dodger Stadium was serenading him with a standing ovation.

“I truthfully was slightly too pissed off to note,” Kershaw mentioned.

He may be 34 and extra reflective than he was once, however his basic nature stays the identical.

Kershaw is a competitor.

So, 5 days after pitching seven good innings in his first begin of the season, he was smoldering within the wake of his departure from the Dodgers’ 7-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Others in uniform stayed away from him as he sat on the bench.

“Simply the sixth inning,” Kershaw later mentioned of the inning through which he was charged with three of the 4 runs he allowed.

Whereas Kershaw mentioned he appreciated the standing ovation, his lack of ability to embrace it in actual time pointed to the sincerity of one thing he mentioned in spring coaching.

“I wouldn’t have come again if I didn’t assume I used to be wholesome,” he mentioned final month. “I additionally didn’t need to come again as a ‘We simply need you right here to tip your cap.’ I don’t need any a part of that. I’m going to contribute.”

The diploma to which he can contribute stays in query, and never simply due to well being issues.

He successfully used his slider to carry the Braves scoreless for 4 innings, however along with his common fastball velocity right down to 90 mph, he was punished for errors he revamped the following two.

Guillermo Heredia launched a ball into the Dodgers’ bullpen within the fifth inning.

Dealing with the highest of the Braves’ order for the third time within the sixth, Kershaw threw a down-the-middle fastball that was whacked over the fence by Ozzie Albies.

Matt Olson adopted by redirecting a low-and-away slider to middle subject for a single.

Austin Riley lined a curveball down the right-field line for a double that superior Olson to 3rd base, and Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts known as on Brusdar Graterol to exchange Kershaw.

Graterol allowed Riley and Olson to attain.

“My stuff wasn’t as crisp,” Kershaw mentioned. “I don’t know if I ran out of gasoline or no matter, however they made me pay that sixth inning, for positive.”

Kershaw was charged with 4 runs and 6 hits in five-plus innings. He struck out seven. He nonetheless hasn’t walked a batter this season.

“I believed I threw the ball OK,” he mentioned.

The optimistic view of what occurred is that as a result of the lockout shortened spring coaching to a few weeks, Kershaw continues to be build up his arm. That was the justification Kershaw supplied final week when defending Roberts’ choice to take him out after seven innings with an ideal recreation intact.

Kershaw threw 87 pitches, seven greater than he did towards the Minnesota Twins in his season debut.

“Eleven of the 12 innings [pitched this season], I’ll take,” Kershaw mentioned. “Simply reveals that I received slightly extra work to do, get my stamina constructed up able to go.”

Or, the sixth inning could possibly be an indication that he’s now the form of pitcher towards whom a great offensive staff such because the Braves can get snug the third time by way of their order.

Of the 11 swings and misses Kershaw generated, none had been within the sixth inning. By then, the Braves had stopped chasing pitches out of the strike zone.

However contemplating his return from an arm damage that sidelined him for your complete postseason final 12 months, Kershaw selected to be upbeat.

“For essentially the most half, there’s positively some good issues taking place for myself,” he mentioned. “It’s simply that one inning is irritating at this level.”

A free agent over the winter, Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $17-million contract.

Whereas sustaining his trademark depth, Kershaw mentioned he’s making an attempt to decelerate and luxuriate in sure moments.

“As you become older and also you’re form of on a year-to-year foundation together with your profession, I believe you positively take it in slightly bit extra,” he mentioned. “Opening day in Colorado, I took that in. That was enjoyable. The house opener right here, form of take all of it in. Attending to pitch at Dodger Stadium, yeah, all that stuff. I believe I positively am taking it in additional than I did early for positive.”

His win Monday evening was the a hundredth of his profession at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw might attain one other milestone in his subsequent begin. With 2,690 profession strikeouts, he’s solely six wanting Don Sutton’s franchise file.