Astros 3, Dodgers 2: Winless week

Clayton Kershaw pitched great, the Dodgers had a lead in the ninth inning and still lost in extra innings to the Astros 3-2. Houston swept the series and the Dodgers’ losing streak is now at five games.

Chase Utley got things started in the first inning with a line drive double into the left field corner. It left the bat at 95 MPH. After a wild pitch advanced him to third base, Justin Turner hit a ball deep enough to center field to put the Dodgers up 1-0. It was a close play at the plate, as Carlos Gomez made an outstanding throw. And before this goes much further: No, the Dodgers didn’t score that run because of Utley’s heads-up base running. The wild pitch that advanced him was an easy decision to go to third. Twitter kind of grabbed that narrative by the throat.

In the fifth inning, offensive powerhouse A.J. Ellis doubled with one out. Ont he strength of two wild pitches by Astros’ rookie hurler Lance McCullers, Ellis came around to score the Dodgers’ second run.

The Astros got on the board in the sixth inning. Jose Altuve, who went 3-for-4 against Kershaw, doubled and moved to third base on a single by Gomez. Phenom Carlos Correa hit a ball back to Kershaw, but it went off his foot and scored Altuve. Gomez got to third base and tried a straight steal of home off Kershaw, which ended like this.

Oh, and this was quite entertaining.

Speaking of Kershaw … he was p good:

8 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K, 111 pitches, 74 strikes, 6/5 GO/AO

We are definitely spoiled. Kershaw threw a few really nasty sliders and was locating his fastball that was consistently 93-94 MPH. It was a strong outing for the soon-to-be-4-time NL Cy Young award winner.

In the top of the ninth, Yasiel Puig was called out on strikes on a borderline pitch. He turned to the umpire, stood there for, admittedly, too long and was about to walk back to the dugout. As he did, he lifted his left arm and the bat slipped out of his hand. The umpire proceeded to eject him. Or as Jeff Moore of Baseball Prospectus tweeted:

Puig just got ejected for his reputation.

— Jeff Moore (@jeffmoore_5) August 23, 2015

Yep.

In the bottom of the ninth, Correa led off with a single and stole second base. Kenley Jansen struck out Luis Valbuena and got Evan Gattis to pop out. On the first pitch, Marwin Gonzalez singled to left and tied the game at two. It snapped Jansen’s string of 17 consecutive saves.

Chris Hatcher, who had been perfect since coming off the disabled list, struck out the first batter of the bottom of the 10th inning before allowing a Minute Maid Park walk-off home run to Jason Castro.

Please be good, Hatcher. Not sure how much whining I can take if you somehow lose the game.

— Dustin Nosler (@DustinNosler) August 23, 2015

Welp.

The Dodgers fall to 67-56 with the loss. After an off day Monday, they take on the Reds on Tuesday. Alex Wood (8-8, 3.79 ERA) takes on John Lamb Disgruntled Goat (0-1, 6.35). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. Pacific time.

Go Pirates!