Over six innings, Kershaw allowed two hits and one walk while striking out eight. His lone blemish was a Kevin Kiermaier home run that wound up of little consequence.
Rays batters swung at 38 of Kershaw’s 78 pitches and whiffed on 19. All eight of his punchouts were of the swinging variety, with the last seven on sliders, and they moved Kershaw into second place on the all-time postseason strikeout list with 201. Should the series get to a fifth game, Kershaw is likely to pass the leader, Houston’s Justin Verlander.
Cody Bellinger blasted a two-run home run off Tampa Bay starter Tyler Glasnow in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.
Game 2 is scheduled for today, with the Rays’ Blake Snell facing Dodgers’ rookie right-hander Tony Gonsolin.
After an off-day Thursday, Tampa Bay’s Charlie Morton will start against Dodgers ace Walker Buehler.
