Kershaw shines on World Series stage

Clayton Kershaw has had a Hall of Fame career as a pitcher for the Dodgers.

Last night he stepped onto the World Series stage for the first time and it was not too big for him.

Kershaw held the Houston Astros to one run on three hits and struck out 11 through seven innings, earning a 3-1 victory in Game One.

Chris Taylor hit the first pitch of the game off Dallas Keuchel into the left field bleachers and Justin Turner hit a winning two-run homer to left off Keuchel in the sixth to give Los Angeles the 1-0 lead in the series going into Game Two.

Kershaw now has a 1.29 ERA in the 2017 playoffs -- so much for him not being able to pitch when the lights are bright.

Keuchel was Houston's ace until the acquisition of Justin Verlander and he pitched well, other than the home run balls surrendered to Taylor and Turner.

After Kershaw went seven strong innings and threw only 82 pitches he was ready to pitch the eighth inning. Dave Roberts knew better, bringing in Brandon Morrow for the eighth and Kenley Jansen for the ninth, neither of them giving up a hit.

Houston should have the edge tonight with Verlander going against Rich Hill but the Dodgers should challenge. L.A. has now won eight of nine games in the playoffs and are looking more and more like the team that went 43-7 in June and July.