MILWAUKEE — Clayton Kershaw’s most important matchup in the National League Championship Series was expected to come against Christian Yelich, but it was another left-handed hitter who burned him early in Game 1 — Milwaukee Brewers reliever Brandon Woodruff.
Kershaw elevated a 2-2 fastball to lead off the third inning and Woodruff didn’t miss it, belting a towering shot that went over the right-center-field fence at Miller Park to tie Friday’s game at 1.
It marked only the fourth time — in more than 2,228 career innings — that Kershaw had allowed a home run to the opposing pitcher, and the first time in the playoffs.
Woodruff, who relieved Brewers starter Gio Gonzalez after two innings, became the third relief pitcher to hit a home run in postseason history, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Los Angeles Dodgers took the initial lead on a 115.6-mph home run by shortstop Manny Machado. But Kershaw struggled through a third inning that ultimately saw him exert 29 pitches, later yielding a sacrifice fly to Hernan Perez.
Woodruff’s home run was his second in 19 career at-bats.