After early struggles, Dodgers win in 10 again

Clayton Kershaw struggled with his fastball command. Mookie Betts committed two errors on the same play. Closer Kenley Jansen was unavailable. And the winningest team in baseball still found a way to win.

For the second consecutive game, it took 10 innings, but the Dodgers pulled out a 6-4 victory over the D-backs on Wednesday night at Chase Field in Phoenix. The win ran their overtime record to 5-1, showing they’ve adapted nicely to this year’s rule change that starts each extra inning with a runner on second base.

• Box score

Corey Seager was that runner to open the 10th inning at second base. He advanced to third when Kevin Ginkel’s first pitch bounced wildly and scored on Chris Taylor’s single up the middle. After Max Muncy’s one-out walk, AJ Pollock greeted Hector Rondón with a single to score Taylor with an insurance run.

“Our offense did a good job scrapping late and our pitching did a great job putting up zeros just inning after inning,” Pollock said, noting that Dodgers relievers pitched five scoreless innings.

That was necessary because Kershaw handled the first five, charged with four runs (three earned) and supported with homers by Betts and Kiké Hernández (wearing a No. 21 jersey on Roberto Clemente Day). Kershaw, though, was a victim of the baseball gods, with several soft hits and three errors behind him.

He’s also a traditionalist, so he’s no fan of the extra-inning rule.

“It’s not real baseball, but it’s fine for this year, and I hope we never do it again,” said Kershaw.

Manager Dave Roberts said he was a proponent of the rule when it was announced and is a leading advocate after seeing how well his club exploits it.

“I didn’t know how it was going to play out and how it was going to be received, but as we’ve had some runs with it, I really like it,” Roberts said. “I think it really shortens the game, it adds strategy for the fans, the managers, the players. I think it’s playing out pretty well and our guys have done a really good job in the situation. I like it permanently. I don’t like it for the postseason.”

• Justin Turner could return to lineup this weekend

Despite the two-run lead, there was still bullpen drama for the Dodgers. Jansen, the National League Reliever of the Month for August, never warmed up for the bottom of the 10th. Jansen made 31 pitches as the winning pitcher Tuesday night, allowing a home run and double, and was down for the game.

“I just felt, [after] 31 pitches, we’ll save him, give him a blow tonight and he’ll be back ready to go tomorrow,” said Roberts.

As it played out, it wasn’t like Roberts was shorthanded. Blessed with rare depth even at the closer position, Roberts gave the ball to Blake Treinen, who, coming into this season, had 71 saves and an All-Star appearance on his resume. Treinen put the D-backs down in order for his first Dodgers save.