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Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw reached Rarefied Air on Wednesday night and became the 20th player ever to reach 3,000 strikes for his career.
It was an exciting evening at a sold -out Dodger Stadium considering that Kershaw had only two strikes against Chicago White Sox as he entered the sixth lap. He had 2,999 strikes and had already got two outs in the frame with his pitch that reached triple digits.
But at the 100th pitch made Kershaw Vinny Capra turn out and the crowd went ballist.
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Los Angeles Starting Care Clayton Kershaw throws the course for his 3000. Strike during the fifth round against Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Concea-Published Pictures)
Kershaw was able to enjoy the moment when play stopped with a full standing ovation from both dugouts and the crowd to celebrate the apartment.
“It’s a little harder when you try to knock people out,” Kershaw said after the 5-4 win of Los Angeles, pr. Espn. “I’ve never really had to do it before.”
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The victory was also an effort from behind, with Freddie Freeman delivering a walk-off single in the ninth lap when Dodgers needed three races to win.
After the game, Kershaw was seen with a champagne flute in the clubhouse where ESPN reported that he told everyone that his performance would mean nothing without them celebrating with him.
In the Holy 20-man group, Kershaw is only the fourth left hand that has reached 3,000 strikes. (Jayne Kamin-Concea-Published Pictures)
In the Holy 20-man group, Kershaw is only the fourth left hand that has reached 3,000 strikes. He joins Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton and CC Sabathia on that list.
Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are the only active pitchers with Kershaw who have achieved the Bragden.
Manager Dave Roberts made it a point to let Kershaw go as long as he could to make sure he reached his goal at home.
“I wanted to give him every opportunity to do it at home,” Roberts said.
Clayton Kershaw recognizes the crowd after beating Chicago White Sox Third Baseman Vinny Capra off his 3000. Career strike. (Jayne Kamin-Concea-Published Pictures)
It took him for a while – Kershaw said he “would rather have got it done in the first one” – but the satisfaction was ready on Kershaw’s face after Capra was put down on strikes.
