Clayton Kershaw bears the brunt in Dodgers’ latest nightmare

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right, wipes his face as he prepares to make a pitching change against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) looks toward home plate as Colorado Rockies’ DJ LeMahieu (9) rounds third base after teammate Nolan Arenado (not pictured) hit a three run home run in the first inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado points to the stands after hitting a three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw after Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado (not pictured) hit a three run home run in the first inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
in the xxx inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Rich Hill, left, along with teams Enrique Hernandez, hitting coach Turner Ward and Logan Forsythe, right, in the first inning of a Major League baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Chris Taylor commits a error as Colorado Rockies’ DJ LeMahieu (not pictured) is safe at first base in the second inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw walks off the mound in the second inning of a Major League baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado watches his three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado hits a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw stands near the mound after giving up a three-run home run to Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, background, during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw takes a deep breath in the dugout before the team’s baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watches from the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Colorado Rockies’ Gerardo Parra, center, is greeted by teammates in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Lucroy during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, bottom, is caught stealing second base by Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story during the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, bottom, is caught stealing second base by Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story during the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, leaves the mound after he was relieved by manager Dave Roberts during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, leaves the mound after he was relieved by manager Dave Roberts during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw sits alone with his thoughts on the dugout bench between the second and third innings of Thursday’s game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw was pulled after 3-2/3 innings as the Dodgers lost again, 9-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig watches after hitting an RBI double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story, center, scores on a passed ball as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger reacts after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Colorado Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez, center, celebrates his home run with teammates during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right, wipes his face as pitching coach Rick Honeycutt looks toward the plate after the Colorado Rockies scores in the seventh inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies in his major league debut in the eighth inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edward Paredes throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edward Paredes throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley fields a ground ball as Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story (not pictured) beats the throw in the seventh inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley fields a ground ball as Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story (not pictured) beats the throw in the seventh inning of a Major League baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 07, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw received some of his loudest applause Thursday when he grounded out to third base. As metaphors for the Dodgers’ malaise go, this was a good one. Still, it wasn’t the defining moment of the Dodgers’ latest nightmare. Not even close.

The primal scream Kershaw unleashed after his day was done echoed off the dugout wall and up to the second deck of Dodger Stadium. At last, the feeling of a team with a .717 winning percentage losing 12 of 13 games had a sound. Kershaw kicked a plastic orange cooler in the dugout and threw his glove against the wall too, but they didn’t travel as far.

Other than an injury-shortened outing in June, Kershaw’s latest start was also his shortest of 2017. He allowed four runs against the Colorado Rockies in a mere 3 ⅔ innings and suffered his third loss in 23 starts. Colorado racked up a few more runs against the Dodgers’ bullpen and won, 9-1, before an announced crowd of 51,492.

“Bad nights are going to happen pitching-wise,” Kershaw said. “I picked a really bad time to have a bad night.”

Roberts said Kershaw’s pitch count was a factor in his early exit. He threw 86 on Thursday, or 16 more than he needed to pitch six innings Sept. 1 in San Diego. That was the last time the Dodgers won a game. It was also Kershaw’s first start back after he missed all of August with a back strain.

That, plus the scoreboard, factored into Roberts’ decision to take the baseball from a pitcher who never wants to give it up.

“If you look at the first couple innings there was stress,” Roberts said. “To start that fourth inning with 71 pitches I felt he could have a quick inning and feel good about that outing. As we got up to 85, 86, I felt I just didn’t want to push him any further.”

On a night the Dodgers needed Kershaw to reprise the streak-stopper role that’s come to define his career, the Rockies quickly got the better of the ace left-hander. The first four batters of the game all collected hits – a first for Kershaw in 288 career starts, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

When the game’s third batter, Nolan Arenado, hit a three-run home run into the Dodgers’ bullpen, the damage was done.

Advantage: Nolan. #Crushed pic.twitter.com/91jhuKFI0G

— MLB (@MLB) September 8, 2017

Kershaw (16-3) allowed six hits, walked three batters and struck out seven. His earned-run average rose from 1.95 to 2.15, still a hair in front of Max Scherzer (2.19) for the National League lead.

Though he bore the brunt of the damage, Kershaw wasn’t alone in succumbing to the Dodgers’ latest opponent.

The first pitcher out of the bullpen, Brock Stewart, allowed two runs in 1⅓ innings, including one on a passed ball that appeared to cross up catcher Yasmani Grandal.

Left-hander Edward Paredes, who hadn’t allowed a run in his first eight major league appearances, faced four batters in the seventh inning and didn’t record an out. Two scored when Josh Ravin issued bases-loaded walks.

For the Rockies, who had lost five of their last seven games, beating up on the National League West leaders reignited their bid for the NL’s second wild-card spot. Their September hasn’t gone as planned either. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ streak of 13 consecutive wins (six of which came at the Dodgers’ expense) has all but assured the Rockies of starting the postseason on the road – if they make it at all.

For the Dodgers, the game exposed a fresh wound.

Colorado starter Jon Gray allowed only four hits in six innings. The Dodgers got their only run against the right-hander when Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig hit doubles in the fourth inning. Gray walked two batters and struck out three.

For a team that scored only two runs while suffering a three-game sweep to the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers’ gaunt offense (averaging 2.15 runs per game over their last 13) looked familiar. Their dry spell has coincided with the absence of star shortstop Corey Seager, who returns to the lineup Friday after dealing with elbow inflammation.

“That’s a part of it,” Roberts said, “but those other seven guys still have to put forth good at-bats and find a way to get hits. Once a guy’s in the batter’s box, Corey isn’t in the batter’s box with him.”

Joc Pederson, the struggling center fielder, offered hope of a resurgence in the form of a screaming fly ball to the opposite field. Kershaw wore down Gray with a 12-pitch at-bat that ended in his meritorious groundout. Other than their only run against Gray, these were the Dodgers’ faint beacons of hope.

A much brighter beacon: Pitcher Walker Buehler, who was nearly perfect in his major league debut. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out two batters and allowed only one hit, a single, while pitching the final two innings.

Buehler got the NL batting average leader, Charlie Blackmon, to watch a sweeping curveball for a called third strike to begin the ninth inning. The next batter, Alexi Amarista, whiffed on a 98-mph fastball with two strikes. Buehler’s fastball climbed as high as 100 mph on the in-house radar gun. He said the first strikeout ball would go to his father, Tony, an avid collector.

The Dodgers’ first-round pick in the 2015 draft, Buehler has now pitched across four levels of the organization in his first full season of professional baseball. Two of those teams, the Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, won without Buehler on Thursday. The Dodgers hope they can do the same soon.

Clayton Kershaw bears the brunt in Dodgers’ latest nightmare

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