LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw admitted he was struggling to come to terms with his disappointment on Wednesday as his latest bid for a first World Series title ended in defeat.
Kershaw, widely regarded as the best pitcher of his generation, must now wait another year as he attempts to fill the only gap on a glittering resume with the Dodgers.
The 29-year-old has claimed a slew of individual honors during a decade of dominance on the mound but has never won a World Series.
“It’s extremely difficult,” Kershaw said after Houston’s 5-1 win at Dodger Stadium completed a 4-3 series triumph.
“I have to remember the team that I’m on,” he added. “When you think about how close you were it makes it too hard to think about. I was just thankful to be part of this team.”
Kershaw had pitched beautifully to set up the Dodgers’ opening win in game one. He suffered a defeat in game five on Sunday, when the Dodgers twice let big leads slip, but then recovered to lead the relieving effort on Wednesday.
But although he pitched four scoreless innings, the Dodgers had been left with too much ground to make up after starter Yu Darvish gave up all five Houston runs in the opening two innings.
“It’s too hard to think about what the Astros are doing right now,” Kershaw said as Houston celebrated.
“It doesn’t feel good for sure.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts meanwhile defended his decision to start Darvish, who was pulled after than less than two innings — just as he had been in game three.
“I thought he was going to really throw the baseball well,” Roberts said. “I know he was prepared. I just can’t explain the results. I really can’t.”
Roberts however brushed off questions about whether he should have opted for another starter such as Kershaw or Alex Wood.
“I don’t have a response. Yu has been one of our top three starters all year or since we acquired him,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers’ loss means that the wait goes on for one of the most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball.
By the time next season rolls around, 30 years will have passed since the Dodgers’ last victory in the Fall Classic.
Roberts however is confident his young team, with Kershaw still yet to turn 30, can mount another challenge for the title.
“I know our guys and I know that — there won’t be a hangover,” Roberts said. “They will be more incentivized, and I think they’ll be hungrier. It’s a tough one. I believe in our guys. I know we had the talent and we just didn’t get it done.
Roberts said although some changes were inevitable, he expected the nucleus of his roster to remain intact.
“I like our guys. I believe in our team. And I expect us to be in the same position next year,” he said.
Kershaw, widely regarded as the best pitcher of his generation, must now wait another year as he attempts to fill the only gap on a glittering resume with the Dodgers.
The 29-year-old has claimed a slew of individual honors during a decade of dominance on the mound but has never won a World Series.
“It’s extremely difficult,” Kershaw said after Houston’s 5-1 win at Dodger Stadium completed a 4-3 series triumph.
“I have to remember the team that I’m on,” he added. “When you think about how close you were it makes it too hard to think about. I was just thankful to be part of this team.”
Kershaw had pitched beautifully to set up the Dodgers’ opening win in game one. He suffered a defeat in game five on Sunday, when the Dodgers twice let big leads slip, but then recovered to lead the relieving effort on Wednesday.
But although he pitched four scoreless innings, the Dodgers had been left with too much ground to make up after starter Yu Darvish gave up all five Houston runs in the opening two innings.
“It’s too hard to think about what the Astros are doing right now,” Kershaw said as Houston celebrated.
“It doesn’t feel good for sure.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts meanwhile defended his decision to start Darvish, who was pulled after than less than two innings — just as he had been in game three.
“I thought he was going to really throw the baseball well,” Roberts said. “I know he was prepared. I just can’t explain the results. I really can’t.”
Roberts however brushed off questions about whether he should have opted for another starter such as Kershaw or Alex Wood.
“I don’t have a response. Yu has been one of our top three starters all year or since we acquired him,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers’ loss means that the wait goes on for one of the most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball.
By the time next season rolls around, 30 years will have passed since the Dodgers’ last victory in the Fall Classic.
Roberts however is confident his young team, with Kershaw still yet to turn 30, can mount another challenge for the title.
“I know our guys and I know that — there won’t be a hangover,” Roberts said. “They will be more incentivized, and I think they’ll be hungrier. It’s a tough one. I believe in our guys. I know we had the talent and we just didn’t get it done.
Roberts said although some changes were inevitable, he expected the nucleus of his roster to remain intact.
“I like our guys. I believe in our team. And I expect us to be in the same position next year,” he said.
