The pitchers’ duel Clayton Kershaw was expected to be part of came one start later. Whereas the Los Angeles Dodgers ace and Chicago Cubs lefty Jon Lester failed to live up to the billing, Kershaw and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson dominated.
Kershaw set a season high with 14 strikeouts over seven innings. He reached 2,000 career strikeouts in the process, becoming the third-fastest pitcher (based on innings pitched) to reach the milestone.
But a fastball to Domingo Santana in the seventh inning nearly spoiled Kershaw’s efforts. Nelson, meanwhile, tallied 11 strikeouts over eight shutout innings.
If not for Yasmani Grandal’s game-tying solo home run in the ninth, Kershaw would’ve suffered a second career 1-0 loss. Because of that, he viewed his outing as paling in comparison to that of Nelson’s, via SportsNet LA:
“He pitched better than I did, so it came down to that one pitch. Most of the nights, one pitch isn’t going to beat you but tonight it almost did.”
For as much as Kershaw has already accomplished in his career, he is not one to reflect on those feats. Kershaw reiterated that sentiment as it pertains to 2,000 strikeouts:
“It’ll be cool some day. I guess when you retire you look back on that stuff. I’m not taking it for granted but I’m also not thinking about it. I don’t know how to quantify it, I guess. It’ll be cool some day.”
The outing was the third straight Kershaw did not earn a decision in; the Dodgers have won each of the games. The three-time Cy Young Award remained 7-2, though lowered his ERA and WHIP to 2.28 and 0.90, respectively.
Kershaw entered 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in five career starts at Miller Park. He’s next expected to face the Washington Nationals in a Wednesday afternoon affair at Dodger Stadium.
