Clayton Kershaw will be riding off into the sunset at the end of the season, as he announced over a month ago. There’s no better way for the Los Angeles Dodgers to send off one of the greatest players in franchise history—and future Hall of Famer—than with another World Series title, which would be his third.
Alas, the Dodgers now have their backs against the wall after losing Game 5 of the World Series, 6-1, putting them down 3-2 as the Fall Classic heads back to Rogers Centre. They could not come through in their final home game of the season, which would have been a fitting moment for Kershaw to see his team secure a win in his last appearance at Dodger Stadium as a member of the squad.
Still, Kershaw received plenty of love from the home crowd that has followed him since he started his career in 2008. He made the walk from the bullpen to the dugout to much applause after the final out, as reported by David Vassegh of SportsNet LA.
While Kershaw may no longer be one of the players manager Dave Roberts calls upon in the toughest situations, he remains a valuable member of the Dodgers roster. Although he has barely played in this year’s postseason, he came up clutch during the marathon Game 3 win, inducing a groundball out from Nathan Lukes with the bases loaded in the top of the 12th inning.
It’s not yet clear if Kershaw will appear in Game 6 or make a brief cameo in a potential Game 7. But if Kershaw has already thrown his final-ever big-league pitch, then he at least went out on a great note.
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**Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers Look to Extend World Series to Winner-Takes-All Game 7**
Game 5 was very tough for the Dodgers, as they struggled to muster any offense against Blue Jays rookie starter Trey Yesavage. The team managed only four hits, and their sole run came off a solo home run from postseason hero Kiké Hernández.
But it’s not over until it’s over. The Blue Jays faced a 3-2 deficit in the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners and managed to come back in grand fashion. Can the Dodgers pull something out of Toronto’s playbook and repeat as World Series champions, even if the odds aren’t in their favor?
Stay tuned as the Dodgers look to force a decisive Game 7 and give Clayton Kershaw the sendoff he deserves.
https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-clayton-kershaws-final-moment-at-dodger-stadium-will-hit-fans-in-the-feels
