Javier Baez had the lone hit for the Straphangers, leading off the 2nd with a single but after Stephen Piscotty struck out, Eric Hosmer grounded into a double play to end the inning. Kershaw (5-0) finished with 6 strikeouts and didn't walk a batter over 9 innings in just 99 pitches - 79 of which went for strikes. It was the first complete-game shutout in these playoffs and just the second shutout overall (three Hopatcong pitchers blanked the Cutters in Game 2 of the first round).Daniel Norris (2-2) was valiant in defeat, overcoming 6 walks in 6 innings while holding the Cutters to 3 hits in one of the more unique pitchers' duels you'll see. The only run scored on his own error. Pedro Baez scattered two hits over the last two innings for the Straphangers.
Norris walked a batter in each of the first two innings but that didn't hurt him. Matt Joyce led off the 3rd with a single and Norris struck out the next two batters before walking David Ortiz and Wilmer Flores to load the bases for Miguel Cabrera. The Hoboken slugger drove a ball deep to left field for the third out and Norris escaped with the game still scoreless.The 5th inning would bring another leadoff walk to Joyce and Jarrod Dyson followed with a single for two men on and the 2-3-4 hitters due up. Norris was up for the challenge again, getting Jose Reyes to fly to center before this time striking out Ortiz and Flores.
Cabrera led off the 6th with a single, and took third base on Adrian Beltre's single. Rene Rivera bounced back to Norris who mishandled it, allowing Cabrera to score and putting men on first and second with none out. Yet again, the left-hander kept the Straphangers in the game, getting the next three batters out, including two by strikeout, but this time trailed 1-0, which is how it ended. Beltre led both teams with 2 of the game's 6 total hits.
Game 2 will be Wednesday in Hoboken with Rick Porcello going for the Cutters and Joe Ross for the Straphangers.
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