The night was not how Clayton Kershaw would have planned it heading into his start against the Chicago White Sox, but it ultimately included enough gratifying moments that he was more than happy to bask in it.
Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history with at least 3,000 career strikeouts. He’s the fourth left-hander in the group, fifth overall to accomplish the feat with one team, and the first Dodgers pitcher.
Kershaw the exclusive club by tallying just enough strikeouts and on his 100th — and final — pitch of the game.
“I made it interesting, for sure,” Kershaw quipped after the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for their seventh walk-off win. “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.
Big applause when Clayton Kershaw emerged from the dugout for the 6th inning. pic.twitter.com/0RwGggmCZC
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 3, 2025
“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.”
Kershaw’s 3,000th strikeout of his career ended the sixth inning, which afforded the Dodgers an optimal time to celebrate the accomplishment.
Fans from the sold-out crowd treated the future Hall of Famer to a standing ovation of nearly six minutes, and Kershaw’s wife, Ellen, and their four children cheered from the front row of a section behind home plate on the loge level of Dodger Stadium.
“Charley was super fired up. I think him and Freddie reminded me the most of how many strikeouts I had left. Cali was so excited and even the two little boys. I’m not sure if they knew exactly what was going on, but they were super excited too,” Kershaw said.
“I feel bad for Ellen. I know she was nervous. I made her last six innings out there, stressed out I wasn’t going to get it and would have to go to Milwaukee to do it. It’s a special thing to see them on the front row up there on the loge level. It’s kind of been Ellen’s spot for the whole time I’ve been here, so it was a great feeling to see them up there.
“Pretty awesome.”
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.
Ever stoic and laser-focused on days he’s pitching, 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.”
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