If this NLDS is going to be about redemption for Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers, they're going to have to dig deeper.*On the heels of a disappointing six-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in last season's NLCS,*they're already back on their heels against St. Louis following a rare Kershaw meltdown that put him on the wrong side of history, and them on the wrong side of a painful 10-9 loss in Game 1.*
For all intents and purposes, Los Angeles should have had Game 1 locked up in the sixth inning. They had already knocked a less-than-effective Adam Wainwright from the game and built up a five-run lead. After allowing an early homer to rookie Randal Grichuk, Kershaw was locked in, having retired 16 straight in the immediate aftermath. There was nothing standing in their way of grabbing a 1-0 series lead aside from the unthinkable.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
A seemingly innocent Matt Carpenter home run gave way to a cavalcade of singles as St. Louis clawed and climbed back into the game, 90 feet at a time, against Kershaw. Before the stunned Dodger Stadium crowd could regain its composure, Carpenter was turning on another mid-90s fastball from the ace. This time it smacked against the right field wall, allowing the bases to clear and St. Louis to reclaim the lead.
By the time the rally ended, Kershaw was gone (with eight earned runs charged against him) and reality was just settling in. A four-run lead had turned into a four-run deficit. A deficit that would prove to be one run too much in the end.*But was the turnaround as far-fetched as it seemed? Maybe not.
After all, it was St. Louis who solved Kershaw in last season's decisive Game 6, squaring him up for seven earned runs in four innings. Now they've had his number twice when it mattered most, and for Kershaw that has put him on the wrong side of history.*
Clayton Kershaw is first pitcher in history to yield 7+ ER in consecutive #postseason starts and is the first to do it twice vs same team.
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 4, 2014
That is stunning dominance against a pitcher who is difficult to crack once, let alone string together hits and sustain success against. Granted, his all-around postseason numbers aren't pretty (1-4, 5.19), but the majority of that came in 2008 and 2009. In his first three postseason starts last year, he allowed one earned run in 19 innings.*
After the game, talk turned to Cardinals baserunners possibly relaying signs to batters, and even Kershaw tipping pitches in the stretch, which he was not forced to work in until the seventh. Neither has gained a lot of traction, and Kershaw was quick to shoot down the latter.
Clayton Kershaw on the possibility he was tipping pitches out of the stretch: “I think that’s discrediting their team…It’s just a cop-out.”
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) October 4, 2014
There are no excuses to be made. Not by Kershaw. Not by Mattingly, who understandably stood by his ace both on the field and after the game. Not by anyone in a Dodgers' uniform.*
The Cardinals simply did what they always seem to do when their back is against the wall. They fought. No at-bats were given away. No swings were wasted. The mindset of each individual became a collective approach, and that forced Kershaw to work harder and to elevate his game further.*
He couldn't, so the Cardinals kept peppering with body shots until landing the knockout punch.*

It will be categorized as a hugely disappointing outing for Kershaw. And it should be. The Dodgers have to win games when he starts, especially when they lead by five runs and especially in a short five-game series. However, it's another game where you have to tip your cap to the Cardinals. They are relentless, fearless, and most impressively, consistent. *
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813