Clayton Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history and first with the Los Angeles Dodgers to record 3,000 career strikeouts. He achieved the milestone against the Chicago White Sox after striking out Vinny Capra in the sixth inning.
That was Kershaw’s 100th and final pitch of the game before giving way to the Dodgers bullpen. Thus, it made Kershaw the first pitcher in MLB history to record his 3,000th career strikeout on his final pitch of the game.
“I made it interesting, for sure,” Kershaw said after his start. “I made it take too long. Honestly, didn’t pitch that great tonight. Slider was so bad, but this was such a special night all around. It really was. Couldn’t have asked for anything more, really. It was so fun to get to be out there.
“Thankfully, I got one strikeout in the fifth so it was only one that I needed left. It’s a little bit harder when you’re actually trying to strike people out. I’ve never really had to do that before. It was hard.
“I give the White Sox credit, too, they didn’t make it easy on me at all. It was a tough night all the way around, but what a way to end it with Freddie coming up clutch there. To see the fans’ reaction, running back out there for the sixth and hearing the crowd roar, was up there for me. It was a special moment. It really was. Just super thankful for tonight, super thankful for my teammates.
“I told my teammates individual awards are great, but if you don’t have anybody to celebrate with, it doesn’t matter. So to have that room full of guys — coaches, strength staff, training staff, front office, everybody — just really be happy for me, is awesome. They were in it with me, and it was an amazing night. A lot of gratefulness on this end, for sure.”
Dave Roberts said before the game he would manage it differently with the hopes that Kershaw would reach the historic milestone at Dodger Stadium. Following the thrilling walk-off win, he revealed Capra was the final batter he was going to allow Kershaw to face, making it all the more important to record that last strikeout needed.
“I was pretty desperate to get strikeouts all day, so nothing really changed,” answered Kershaw when asked if his approach changed once he got to one away from 3,000 strikeouts.
“My pitch count was high after the first inning, so it was going to be hard. I probably wouldn’t have been out there, honestly, if it wasn’t for this. Thankful for Doc to stick with me, thankfully I got through six and we got the win at the end, which was awesome.”
On a normal night, Kershaw likely would have been out of the game much sooner. And with the Dodgers still in position to win the game and Kershaw at a season-high in pitches, and for quite some time, Roberts said it was excruciating to watch from the dugout hoping for history, just as the fans were hoping for the same from the stands.
“It was tough in the sense that you want to put him in the best position to get the 3,000 strikeouts,” Roberts said. “He’s so close, we can all kind of see it, and you’re trying to will it to happen, you’re trying to still manage a ballgame.
“I’m thinking about stress and pitch count, there was a lot of effort tonight from him. So there was a lot of trying to figure out how far I push him. Very gutty.”
Kershaw joined Nolan Ryan (5,714), Randy Johnson (4,875), Roger Clemens (4,672), Steve Carlton (4,136), Bert Blyleven (3,701), Tom Seaver (3,640), Don Sutton (3,574), Gaylord Perry (3,534), Walter Johnson (3,509), Justin Verlander (3,471), Max Scherzer (3,419), Greg Maddux (3,371), Phil Niekro (3,342), Fergie Jenkins (3,192), Pedro Martinez (3,154), Bob Gibson (3,117), Curt Schilling (3,116), CC Sabathia (3,093) and John Smoltz (3,084) in the exclusive 3,000-strikeout club.
He is one of four left-handed pitchers to record 3,000 strikeouts, and is the second to accomplish the feat while with the Dodgers, joining Scherzer (Sept. 12, 2021 vs. San Diego Padres).
Kershaw became one of just five pitchers to record 3,000 strikeouts with one team, joining Johnson (3,509; Washington Senators, 1907-1927), Gibson (3,127; St. Louis Cardinals, 1959-1975), Carlton (3,031; Philadelphia Phillies, 1972-1986) and Smoltz (3,011; Atlanta Braves, 1988-2008).
Clayton Kershaw grateful for Dodgers fans
As Kershaw walked down the left-field line to begin his warmup routine like every other start over his 18-year career, hundreds of fans who had arrived early stood to give him the first of what would be multiple standing ovations throughout the night.
Kershaw broke from character and pumped his left fist toward the crowd in acknowledgement of the cheers.
“We’ve been through it. We have. I’ve been through it a lot. Ups and downs here, more downs than I care to admit. The fans tonight, it really meant a lot,” Kershaw explained.
“Usually I try not to acknowledge anything before the game, just because I’m trying to lock it in a little bit, but it was too hard not to. It was overwhelming to feel that. I don’t have a lot of great words, other than it was really special.”
Kershaw also received congratulations from former players, as well as his teammates, which he was thankful for.
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