Clayton Kershaw (37), who received the Cy Young Award three times as the best pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 2010s, is feeling the passage of time. He did not expect winning 1 game to be this difficult.

On the 4th (Korea time), Kershaw started the game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, and pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing 6 hits (1 home run), 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 5 earned runs.

It was his fourth appearance of the season, but Kershaw's quest for his first win ended in failure again. In the 1st inning, with 2 outs and a runner on second due to a hit and a wild pitch, Kershaw gave up a timely hit to Pete Alonso, allowing the first run. However, the Dodgers' lineup supported him with 4 runs in the 1st inning, giving him a lead as he took the mound in the 2nd.

In the 3rd inning, he allowed a two-run home run to Juan Soto, but he ended the 4th inning with a scoreless frame and aimed for the win conditions with a 2-run lead going into the 5th. However, after giving up a walk to Francisco Lindor with one out, a fielding error by Max Muncy on a ground ball from Starling Marte allowed the runners to advance.

With one out and runners on first and second, he made a putout on Soto's pop-up to the shortstop but allowed a two-RBI double to Alonso that rolled into left-center. Following the subsequent two outs with runners on second and third, a ground ball hit by Brandon Nimmo to first base brought the runner from third home, allowing a comeback to 4-5. Kershaw stepped into the base cover, but Nimmo was slightly faster, and he ultimately could not complete the inning.

In the continued situation with 2 outs and runners on first and third, Ben Gamel produced a pop-up to left field for Tyrone Taylor, leaving Kershaw's earned runs at 5. Although the Dodgers secured a 6-5 victory in 10 innings with a walk-off double from Freddie Freeman, Kershaw's pitching left disappointment.

With a total of 92 pitches, he pitched his fastball at a high speed of 91.2 mph (146.8 km) and an average of 89.3 mph (143.7 km), throwing more sliders (47) than four-seam fastballs (33), and mixing in curves (10) and splitters (2). Despite a high percentage of breaking pitches, the balls near the strike zone were easily targeted.

According to 'SportsNet LA', Kershaw said after the game, "I didn't throw enough good pitches. I got the favorable counts against some batters, but I gave up hits on two-strike counts, issued walks, and allowed several hard-hit balls. Overall, it was not a great day, but the team did really well. The team saved me, and we got an important win."

Kershaw was disappointed with Muncy's error in the 5th inning but embraced his teammate. He said, "Helping each other is what a team is about. Errors can happen to anyone, and they are not a big issue. Muncy is doing really well at the plate, and I was glad to see him hit his second home run in the 9th." Muncy made up for the defensive error with his 8th and 9th home runs of the season, hitting a two-run shot in the 1st and a solo homer in the 9th.

Kershaw, who underwent surgery on his left big toe and knee in November last year, started the season on the 18th of last month after a 6-month rehabilitation. He has pitched 15⅔ innings in 4 games, with an earned run average of 5.17, a WHIP of 1.66, and a batting average against of .283. His strikeouts (8) have been surpassed by walks (9), showing a decline in his stuff and control.

Although Kershaw's decline is evident, he noted, "I feel really good physically. I don't feel like I've aged, and my arm is fine. The stuff itself is okay," adding, "So there's no excuse. I need to pitch better. I should consistently get batters out."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "Kershaw's curve has never been as off as it was today. There was one good curve thrown to a left-handed batter, but there were many uncompetitive curves. It was very different from the usual Kershaw style. The sharpness of the slider was also lacking," criticizing the quality of his breaking pitches. Except for the four-seam fastball that Soto hit for a home run in the 3rd inning, the other 5 hits allowed were each on curves or sliders.

Roberts continued, "Kershaw himself must be frustrated about not being able to finish off with a strikeout even when he gets favorable counts. He is pitching really hard, but it doesn't come as easily as it used to. However, Kershaw continues to work hard, and we will keep believing in him and give him opportunities."

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