Clayton Kershaw not sharp in Dodgers tie with Cleveland

Dodgers 5, Cleveland 5

AT THE PLATE: A.J. Ellis tied the score in the top of the ninth with a safety squeeze to cap a three-run rally against Cleveland reliever Dan Otero. Trayce Thompson paced the offense earlier in the night, going two for four with an RBI double. Yasiel Puig also hit an RBI double.

ON THE MOUND: Clayton Kershaw struck out seven and held the Indians to two runs, but he felt little relief after his outing. He needed 96 pitches to complete five innings and Cleveland tagged him for seven hits.

“It wasn’t very good,” Kershaw said. “I didn’t make very many good pitches tonight. I don’t know really what to say. Ninety-six pitches in five innings isn’t very good.”

Kershaw blamed a lack of command, including a series of fastballs up in the strike zone.

“That was bad,” he said. “I was up a lot, the whole game. Every once in a while, I sprinkled a few good ones in there.”

EXTRA BASES: Howie Kendrick was scratched shortly before first pitch because of tightness in his left calf. He had already missed a chunk of time because of a groin injury. Manager Dave Roberts said Kendrick would receive some time off as a precaution.

“When a player like Howie, who wants to be out there, says it’s bothering him, I’d rather take a day or two [to be careful],” Roberts said.

UP NEXT: San Francisco on Friday at 7 p.m. at Camelback Ranch. On the air: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570.