Clayton Kershaw lasted just one inning in the shortest start of his stellar career while Kyle Hendricks pitched a complete game for the Chicago Cubs in a 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in the opener of a split doubleheader.
Exactly 11 years after he went just 1 1/3 innings against Milwaukee in what was his shortest start, Kershaw (4-3) didn't last long in this one.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner gave up four runs and four hits, including an RBI single by Anthony Rizzo and three-run double by David Bote. He faced nine batters in a 39-pitch inning as his ERA rose from 2.09 to 2.95. The Dodgers lost for the seventh time in nine games.
Hendricks (2-3) went seven innings in his sixth career complete game and the longest outing for the Cubs this season. He gave up seven hits, struck out six and walked one while lowering his ERA from 7.54 to 6.07.
Hendricks did not allow a run until pinch-hitter Keibert Ruiz homered with one out in the seventh.
The Cubs, who had lost seven of nine, coasted despite shortstop Javier Baez making three errors. Jake Marisnick homered for Chicago.
Kershaw hadn't allowed four or more runs in an inning of a regular-season game since a four-run sixth against Philadelphia on Sept. 18, 2017. The only other time he allowed four or more in a first inning was on Aug. 28, 2008, when he got tagged for five at Washington.
Kershaw gave up a one-out double to Kris Bryant, and things unraveled for him from there.
Rizzo followed with an RBI single. Baez walked and Matt Duffy singled to load the bases before Bote drove a three-run double off the wall in left-center to make it 4-0.
The Chicago Cubs placed former NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta on the 10-day injured list because of an abrasion on his right thumb. They also placed 2B Nico Hoerner (strained left forearm) and reliever Dan Winkler (right triceps tendinitis) on the IL, recalled left-handed pitcher Kyle Ryan and right-hander Keegan Thompson and selected INF Ildemaro Vargas from Triple-A Iowa.
Manager David Ross said OF Ian Happ (bruised ribs), taken from the field in a cart following a collision with Hoerner during Sunday's loss at Cincinnati, was improving though still ''super sore'' and considered day to day. He added that tests showed Happ did not suffer a concussion.
Trevopr Bauer didn't get through the fifth in the nightcap, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers 7-1 and 4-3 Tuesday to sweep a day-night doubleheader.
The Dodgers sent Kershaw and Bauer to the mound, hoping two of baseball's best pitchers would put the brakes on this recent skid. Instead, they came away with two more losses.
Kershaw lasted one inning in the shortest start of his stellar career in the first game of the Tuesday doubleheader.
Kris Bryant started the inning on second and moved up on Anthony Rizzo's grounder. Bote singed to right on a 2-2 pitch from Garrett Cleavinger (0-2) for his fourth career walk-off hit.
The Cubs squeezed that one out even though they were 2 for 20 with runners in scoring position.
Bote's hit gave Justin Steele (1-0) his first career win. And Chicago took two from the World Series champions after losing seven of nine.
Bauer threw 90 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and four hits while striking out seven as the Dodgers lost for the eighth time in 10 games.
Jason Heyward gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead when he homered leading off the fourth.
Max Muncy tied it with his drive against Chicago closer Craig Kimbrel in the seventh, forcing extra innings.
Edwin Rios scored on a wild pitch in the eighth before pinch-hitter Justin Turner hit a solo homer against Dillon Maples to give Los Angeles a 3-1 lead.
But the Cubs answered in the bottom half. Javier Baez - who entered in the sixth - launched a two-run drive against Mitch White with two outs.
Chicago's Keegan Thompson pitched two-hit ball over 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his first career start and second appearance.
Exactly 11 years after he went just 1 1/3 innings against Milwaukee in what was his shortest start, Kershaw (4-3) didn't last long in the first game.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner gave up four runs and four hits, including an RBI single by Rizzo and a big hit by Bote. He faced nine batters in a 39-pitch inning as his ERA rose from 2.09 to 2.95.
Walker Buehler (1-0, 3.16 ERA) starts for Los Angeles while RHP Adbert Alzolay (1-2, 4.71) fills in for Arrieta today.
