Clayton Kershaw shut down all the narratives about his postseason struggles.
The three-time Cy Young winner capitalized off his first big-league save in Game 5 of the NLDS, shutting down the Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Behind Kershaw's seven shutout innings, the Dodgers evened the series at one game apiece with a 1-0 victory in front of 42,384 disappointed Cubs fans at Wrigley Field.
Pitching on short rest (after he threw 218 pitches in three appearances in the five-game NLDS), Kershaw gave up only two singles and a walk, striking out six.
Kershaw only needed 84 pitches, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to sit his workhorse down and go to elite closer Kenley Jansen for the final six outs.
The game's lone run came on Adrian Gonzalez's homer that just barely snuck into the bleachers in the second inning. The veteran first baseman lifted Kyle Hendricks' offering into the first row of the left-field bleachers, utilizing a wind that was blowing out for a second straight night.
Hendricks didn't have his best stuff (four walks, three hits in 5.1 innings), but limited the damage and kept the Cubs in the game.
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"I didn't give in," Hendricks said. "I didn't get deep in the game like I wanted to, but at least kept us in it and gave us a chance. One swing away."
Kershaw had a no-hitter going until Javy Baez lined a 1-out single to center. Willson Contreras followed with a single up the middle, but Jason Heyward popped out to third base to end the Cubs' lone threat of the game.
The series now moves to Los Angeles with Game 3 Tuesday night.