Clayton Kershaw outduels Julio Teheran, defeats Atlanta Braves

Clayton Kershaw is pretty good at baseball.

The Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander dominated the Atlanta Braves for much of Thursday night’s action, flirting with a shut-out and eventually leading the home team to a 2-1 victory. The 26-year-old entered with a lights-out 1.76 ERA on the season, but after a 9-hit, 9-strikeout performance, that number dipped to an almost comical 1.71, and the Braves were certainly on the wrong end of things.

Julio Teheran, who was actually pretty good on this night, takes the loss for Atlanta, and frankly, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Braves ace pitched a “complete game” in finishing eight innings in a road loss, and Teheran allowed just 2 earned runs on 5 hits (3 walks) while striking out 9 hitters. Adrian Gonzalez cranked an RBI double that plated Yasiel Puig in the game’s first frame, and the aforementioned Puig gave Kershaw and the Dodgers some additional cushion with a solo home run in the third. Unfortunately for Atlanta, the insurance run was critical in sending the Braves to defeat.

B.J. Upton and Ryan Doumit, who was once again in right field for the injured Jason Heyward, both contributed two hits to the cause on Thursday, and it was the elder Upton who crossed the plate for the team’s only run in the ninth inning on an infield single from his brother, Justin. Kershaw came up big when it mattered by retiring Evan Gattis with 2 outs in the ninth, however, and it was an ominous reminder of what October may look like if the two teams match up for the second consecutive season.

The loss signifies the first road sweep by the Braves in Los Angeles since 1990 (hat-tip to Kevin McAlpin of 680 the Fan), and Atlanta will look to right the ship as they head to San Diego for a weekend set against the Padres. Stay tuned for the 10:10 pm ET first pitch as Mike Minor opposes Eric Stults.