A starter who’s had great movement on his pitches gets yanked in the third inning.  A starter who’s leading, and throwing in the upper 90’s, gets pulled after 73 pitches. His replacement gives up a blast to dead center that doesn’t tie the game only because of a spectacular catch by the center-fielder. Then the closers for one club comes in in the sixth and the closer for the other comes in in the seventh inning.

Sure, I’m talking about the Dodgers at Brewers, Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, but it really doesn’t matter who the players are at this point. I’m just waiting for the clown car to pull up.

And then it does.

The Dodgers get two men on and then pinch hits for the Kenley Jansen who is replaced by Clayton Kershaw, who’s struggled starting in the playoffs but hasn’t give up a run in two previous postseason relief appearances. Of course he goes 1-2-3 to seal the win and send L.A. to the World Series.

Of course he does.

“I didn’t know what to expect going down there,” said Clayton Kershaw in the understatement of the day after the Dodgers had won the game.

I totally agree with him. After what I just saw, I don’t know if I can ever know what to expect again.