After a thirteen day layoff, punctuated by a scratched start due to neck spasms, Yusei Kikuchi took the mound against future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. Despite Kikuchi’s notable rust, it was shaping up to be quite the pitchers duel between Kikuchi and Kershaw. That is, until home plate umpire Adrian Johnson joined the fray in the third inning.
After an Enrique Hernandez single and Matt Barnes walk, the Dodgers were threatening with no outs and runners on first and second. Kikuchi got ahead to an 0-2 count and tossed in a cutter at the bottom of the zone:
Oof.