LOS ANGELES – Clayton Kershaw has joined an exclusive club.
The longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace is the 20th pitcher in baseball history to strike out 3,000 batters.
Kershaw, a 37-year-old lefty, reached the milestone when he struck out Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, July 2 at Dodger Stadium.
A 10-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner, Kershaw entered the game with 2,997 strikeouts. Kershaw didn’t register a strikeout in the first two innings, but got Miguel Vargas swinging for the first out in the third. But Kershaw struggled through those first three innings, giving up four runs including Austin Slater’s two-run homer in the third.
He didn’t strike anybody out in the fourth inning either, heading to the fifth at 80 pitches, adding drama to what was expected to be a coronation.
Kershaw got Lenyn Sosa for strikeout No. 2,999 to end the fifth, but was then at 92 pitches. Manager Dave Roberts sent Kershaw back out for the sixth. With two outs – after third baseman Max Muncy was injured applying a tag at third base – Kershaw struck out Vinny Capra looking for the magical No. 3,000.
He becomes the fourth left-handed pitcher to join the 3,000 strikeout club, joining Steve Carlton, Randy Johnson and CC Sabathia. Kershaw is only the second player to accomplish the feat all with one club, following in the footsteps of Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson.
Kershaw gave up four runs in six innings, picking up No. 3000 on his 100th pitch of the night. He was on the hook for the loss until the Dodgers rallied to win on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
On May 25, 2008, Kershaw struck out his first batter as a 20-year-old rookie making his major-league debut with the Dodgers. The strikeouts began to pile up as his 18-year career has unfolded.
He led the National League in strikeouts three times – 2011, 2013 and 2015 – and he recorded a career-high 301 in 2015.
Nolan Ryan holds the all-time record with 5,714 strikeouts.
Before Kershaw’s history-making start, Roberts said the club icon had this milestone in mind when he decided to come back for an 18th season.
“He loves competing,’’ Roberts said. “Certainly wants to see it all the way through October and be a viable integral part in this season. … I think that to be able to come back and essentially go out on his own terms is important and not many people get that opportunity.’’
Said Roberts: ‘It’s the last box for Clayton to check in his tremendous career.”
Clayton Kershaw’s wife, family celebrate 3,000th strikeout
Dodgers game paused to honor Clayton Kershaw hitting 3,000 strikeouts
There will be no penalty – or complaint – for this delay of game. The Dodgers paused the action a few minutes after Kershaw recorded strikeout No. 3,000. After joining his teammates in the dugout, Kershaw came back onto the field and acknowledged the cheering fans.
He also pointed to his family, as the video boards congratulated Kershaw on ‘3,000 STRIKEOUTS.’
Kershaw gets No. 2,999 in the fifth
Kershaw got Lenyn Sosa swinging to end a scoreless fifth inning for strikeout No. 2,999, but is at 92 pitches through five innings. Will Dave Roberts send him back out to start the sixth?
White Sox not cooperating for Kershaw
The chances of Kershaw notching his 3,000th strikeout tonight are dimming. He needs only two, but he’s already thrown 80 pitches through four innings and the White Sox are not cooperating.
In the fourth, he got two a two-strike count for the 12th time of the night, but the White Sox refused to whiff. They also failed to get a hit or run – but maintained a 4-2 lead over the Dodgers.
Kershaw notches strikeout No. 2,998
Never mind Kershaw that gave up a two-run homer to Austin Slater to put the White Sox up 3-2. The Dodgers crowd roared when Kershaw struck out the next batter, Michael Vargas for No. 2,998.
Kershaw gave up a total of three runs and four hits before getting out of the inning. The game heads to the bottom of the third with the White Sox leading 4-2 and Kershaw needing two more, already at 63 pitches through three.
This is beginning to feel like one of Kershaw’s postseason debacles.
Kershaw settles down in second: Still no strikeouts
After struggling in the first first inning, Kershaw retired the White Sox players in order in the second inning – but none on strikeouts. Kershaw got Vinny Capra to ground out to short to end the frame.
Kershaw got out of the inning with 10 pitches, increasing his total to 39 through two innings.
Clayton Kershaw off to rocky start and remains at 2,997
Clayton Kershaw labored through a first inning that ended without a strikeout and with him wiping his brow in relief.
He faced six White Sox batters and gave up a run on three hits. Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto contained the damage when he made a leaping catch at the wall for the third out. Kershaw threw 29 pitches in the first inning, 19 for strikes.
Catcher Will Smith hit a home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one.
Is Clayton Kershaw the greatest Dodgers pitcher ever?
Before the game, Roberts was asked if Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. In other words: is Kershaw better than Dodgers pitching legends Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale?
“That’s a tough one,’ Roberts said, indicating he had not compared the three pitchers’ accomplishments. But then he referenced Kershaw’s 18-year career.
“It’s hard to not say Clayton is the greatest Dodger (pitcher) of all time, as far as you’re talking about body of work. … Yeah, he’s a unicorn.’
Clayton Kershaw’s first strikeout victim remembers debut
The Cardinals didn’t have any tape of the 20-year-old kid who was going to make his major-league debut on May 25, 2008. No one had any scouting reports. No one faced him in the minors. So, they began asking each other if anyone knew anything about the Dodgers’ prized prospect.
Skip Schumaker was leading off for the Cardinals and stepped to the plate with a game plan.
“I figured I was going to ambush him and welcome him to the big leagues,’ Schumaker told USA TODAY Sports. “The first pitch was an elevated fastball. It was harder and faster than I thought, and I swung and missed. Then he threw a curveball. It was something different. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.
“And then, well, I struck out.’
Schumaker finished his career 0-for-7 against Kershaw with six strikeouts – and grounded into a double play.
“Clayton Kershaw,’ Schumaker says, “is the most dominant pitcher I’ve ever played against in my career. I’ve never seen anybody like him.”
– Bob Nightengale
How many strikeouts does Clayton Kershaw have?
Kershaw enters his start on July 2 with 2,997 career strikeouts – in 2,781 ⅓ innings.
White Sox lineup vs. Kershaw
Chase Meidroth (R) SS
Austin Slater (R) LF
Miguel Vargas (R) 1B
Andrew Benintendi (L) DH
Edgar Quero (S) C
Lenyn Sosa (R) 2B
Mike Tauchman (L) RF
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF
Vinny Capra (R) 3B
Dodgers lineup tonight
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Will Smith (R) C
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Andy Pages (R) RF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Michael Conforto (L) LF
Tommy Edman (S) CF
Hyeseong Kim (L) 2B
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