LOS ANGELES >> Clayton Kershaw pitched one of the worst games of his career Sunday. The Dodgers’ cleanup hitter, Franklin Gutierrez, played half an inning before leaving with a serious illness. Jon Lester was on the mound for the Chicago Cubs, the reigning MVP of the National League Championship Series pitching for the defending World Series champions.
The Dodgers won anyway, convincingly and not mysteriously. They hit four home runs into a light afternoon air in front of an announced crowd of 47,732 at Dodger Stadium, beating Chicago, 9-4, to complete a three-game sweep.
“Regardless of who the opponent is, it’s huge to sweep,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.