Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw gets a key pickoff
Clayton Kershaw’s most important pitch Sunday wasn’t a pitch at all. It was a pickoff attempt to first base that proved crucial in the Dodgers’ 1-0 win over the New York Mets.
It came in the sixth inning. Shortstop Jose Reyes had singled and Luis Castillo was up to bat. Reyes had a wide lead at first base, and Kershaw took advantage, quickly turning to throw to James Loney.
Reyes took off for second, but Loney’s throw to Jamey Carroll was in time, and Reyes was tagged out.
What made the play significant was that Castillo then doubled to right field, and had Reyes, one of the fastest men in baseball, been on base, he surely would have scored.
Kershaw’s pickoff, his sixth of the season, which ties San Diego’s Wade LeBlanc for the National League lead, prevented that.
But Kershaw wouldn’t go into great detail about the play or his pickoff techniques after the game.
“I can’t really explain it in one sentence because I’ve tried so many things,” he said. “I’ve always had a pickoff move. It’s really not a matter of me not having a good one. It’s a matter of them stealing and me just happening to pick them off.”
Ausmus says he’s done after this season
Catcher Brad Ausmus played his first game Saturday since returning from back surgery, but he was held out of Sunday’s game after apparently feeling ill, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said.
Ausmus caught 12 innings in Saturday’s 13-inning Dodger win and said he felt fine afterward.
But Sunday, he confirmed that he would retire after this season.
“This is it,” the 41-year-old said.
Ausmus has a one-year contract that includes a club option for next season.
He is in his second season with the Dodgers, and the team brought him in largely to help mentor Russell Martin, the Dodgers’ 27-year-old starting catcher.
Ausmus played 17 seasons in the major leagues and has won three Gold Gloves (2001, 2002, and 2006).
The New Haven, Conn., native was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 48th round of the 1987 draft.
Short hops
In the fourth inning, a foul ball hit by Carlos Beltran sailed into the Dodgers’ dugout and hit pitcher Carlos Monasterios, who was sitting on a bench, in the right side of the head. Monasterios, who never lost consciousness, was examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and he did not appear to have a concussion, team officials said.... Shortstop Rafael Furcal came off the bench Sunday to pinch-hit for Blake DeWitt in the eighth inning; he flied out.... Padres right hander Mat Latos (11-4, 2.48 earned-run average) will start against the Dodgers on Thursday instead of right-hander Kevin Correia (7-6, 5.09 ERA), Padres Manager Bud Black announced Sunday. The Padres have an off day Monday, so Latos will be on normal rest.... Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey left the game in the sixth inning because of an undisclosed injury to his left leg. He’s scheduled to be examined Monday.... Actor and Los Angeles native Anson Williams, who played Warren “Potsie” Weber on the television show “Happy Days,” sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.”… Fox News political commentator Bill O’Reilly spent time chatting with Torre in the Dodgers’ dugout before the game.
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