The good news is that Dodgers ace and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw collected two hits – both singles – against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon in the 2021 season opener at Coors Field. In fact, he is currently tied with 2020 World Series MVP Corey Seager for the team lead at .667.

The bad news is that he allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits while walking one and striking out an un-Kershaw-like two, for which he suffered the loss in the season opener and begins the Dodgers 2021 World Series Repeat Tour with an ugly 7.94 ERA.

“It wasn’t great,” a noticeably disgusted Kershaw told reporters after the game.

What exactly didn’t he didn’t he like about it?

“The runs that were scored,” he answered abruptly.

“I don’t think his slider was really sharp, but he still gave us a chance to win a baseball game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in more detail. “I thought there were some pitches that he would like to have back; there were some balls that found some holes.”

But you can’t hang this one entirely on Kershaw. Roberts’ team went a dismal 3-for-16 (.188) with runners in scoring position … a lot of runners in scoring position. In fact, they stranded 14 runners on base in their 8-5 season-opening loss to the Rockies.

“I think today, honestly, we just didn’t play a good baseball game,” Roberts said. “I think all the way around, we didn’t play well. We gave away too many bases. I thought the at-bat quality was good, but all the other parts of the game just weren’t clean.”

There was one late move Roberts made that left a lot of Dodger fans scratching their collective heads. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning, Roberts elected to pinch-hit Matt Beaty for smoking hot utility infielder Zach McKinstry. McKinstry had doubled in his previous at-bat to lead off the eighth inning and came around to score the Dodgers fifth run. During the just-concluded Spring Training, Beaty hit .262, whereas McKinstry hit .279. Beaty, representing the go-ahead run at the plate, struck out looking – on three pitches – which, quite frankly, is inexcusable.

“I just felt right there, the match-up, that I liked Matt against high-velocity,” Roberts explained when asked about his questionable decision. “Zach put a good at-bat the at-bat prior, but I think in that sense, I just really loved the match-up.”

You blew this one, Doc … and Matt.

Play Ball!

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