Kershaw's Finest Tames Tigers 4-0
by Eric Stephen on Jun 20, 2011 10:00 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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Clayton Kershaw was sparkling Tuesday night, pitching a two-hit shutout to give the Dodgers their second consecutive win, 4-0 over the Tigers. Coming into tonight, the Tigers ranked eighth in MLB in runs per game (4.57), fourth in OPS+ (111), fourth in wOBA (.331), and fourth in wRC+ (107), but Kershaw purred along, striking out 11 and retiring the final 13 batters he faced, in what might have been the best outing of his career.
It was the second shutout for Kershaw in his last five starts, and third career shutout for the southpaw, all coming in his last 18 outings. Kershaw's 11 strikeouts gives him 117 punchouts on the season, surpassing Roy Halladay for the major league lead. It was the 11th double-digit strikeout game of Kershaw's career. According to Vin Scully on the KCAL broadcast, Kershaw induced 22 swings and misses tonight by Detroit.
Juan Uribe provided all the offense Kershaw would need with a solo home run in the first inning. It was the first home run since April 29 for Uribe, ending a personal span of 31 games and 120 plate appearances without a long ball. The Dodgers tacked on another run in the sixth inning with a pair of doubles, by James Loney and Dioner Navarro.
Kershaw helped himself in the bottom of the eighth inning, delivering a bases-loaded single that brought home two runs, pushing the lead to 4-0. The last Dodger to pitch a shutout and drive in at least two runs was Derek Lowe, who did so against the Padres on April 15, 2005.
Notes
- The Dodgers shutout back-to-back opponents for the first time since last July 25 and 27, when they beat the Mets and Padres 1-0 and 2-0, respectively. That ended a run of four shutouts in six games by the Dodgers.
- Matt Kemp was credited with a stolen base in the eighth inning on what really was a busted pickoff play, but nonetheless Kemp picked up steal number 18, putting him two shy of joining Davey Lopes as the only L.A. Dodgers to join the 20-20 club before the All-Star break. Lopes had 20 home runs and 21 steals in 91 games before the break in 1979, on his way to a season with 28 homers and 44 steals.
- Kershaw walked to lead off the third inning, the 12th walk by a Dodger pitcher this season. They lead all of baseball in that category, and have at least four more walks than every other team.
- Jonathan Broxton, who has been on the disabled list since May 6 with a bone bruise in his right elbow, will begin a rehab assignment with Triple A Albuquerque on Tuesday.
- For a recap of today's decision by commissioner Bud Selig to reject the Dodgers' proposed television deal with Fox, you can read Bill Shaikin and David Wharton at the Los Angeles Times, Josh Fisher and Molly Knight at ESPN, Tim Brown at Yahoo! Sports, and Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball.
- Chad Billingsley faces Max Scherzer in the second game of the series on Tuesday night.
WP - Clayton Kershaw (7-3): 9 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
LP - Brad Penny (5-6): 6 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
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Kershaw now trending on twitter.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
probably all Yankees fans wondering if they can get him for the younger and more polished Banuelos.
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Probly wondering if they can get him for their 3rd best catching prospect
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
112
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
That's it?
Wowwee. He’s come a long, long way.
Nothing is ever easy.
by drulenarendes on Jun 20, 2011 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
If only there is no Carlos Zambrano
I think Kershaw can be a possible silver slugger candidate this year? lol
He'll have to duke it out with Bills.
Nothing is ever easy.
by drulenarendes on Jun 20, 2011 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Kershaw only hits for average
Bills and Zambrano both hit doubles and the occasional dinger
fuck yeah!
92 and 93 for Kershaw in his 2 shut outs. Suck it everyone but Verlander and Cliff Lee!
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
Loved seeing how happy Kershaw was on the field after the game
Did anyone catch him smiling as the crowd rose after 2 outs?
And great to see him genuinely happy after the 3rd out, hugging the catcher, and walking up and down the victory line. I’d rather see that than players “acting” hard or trying to be too cool.
are you that one guy I met that one time at that one thing?
by Josie Becker on Jun 20, 2011 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions
yahoo put up a recap of lincecums 3-hitter a month or so back...
you’d think they’d do the same for Kershaws 2-hitter!!!
James Loney
now has his BA the same as last year’s
by dodgerpreacher on Jun 20, 2011 10:12 PM PDT reply actions
Does he have enough money to make the June 30 payroll?
Nothing is ever easy.
by drulenarendes on Jun 20, 2011 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions
He will in about 5-6 years
right now he has the same salary as Aaron Miles
That
Is how life works in MLB. But then how many 23 year olds without a college degree make 500K for 7.5 months work.
by bhsportsguy on Jun 20, 2011 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Several Thousand, if you count all the athletes around the world playing in the top of their professional leagues.
I
Would guess that approximately 400 or so NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL players that are/were 23 or younger in the last season played made 500K or more.
by bhsportsguy on Jun 20, 2011 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions
glad this was on KCAL
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
i just love going to the oppositions SB blog
and reading all the nice comments about Vin and Kershaw.
Dodger Talk
Someone asked if Dee will play LF when Furcal comes back.
Suchon made it clear that he’s playing SS everyday, here or AAA.
Larry Bowa did an interview for 570 tonight.
He said the Dodgers should trade Ethier if he falls out of contention, but should sign Kemp to a long term deal. Called him a 5 tool player, and made the choice between Kemp and Ethier, he’d choose Kemp.
But he was hard to understand, given the amount of crow in his mouth.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
by Nolij on Jun 20, 2011 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
By Josh Fisher
Special to ESPNLosAngeles.com
Glad to see he’s appreciated, but what a shitty title.
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
That’s the typical byline for freelance journalists at countless publications.
by JonWeisman on Jun 20, 2011 11:28 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Jamey Carroll
is three plate appearances away from earning another $25,000.
by Eric Stephen on Jun 20, 2011 11:16 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Two of the three guys i was excited for that are playing in Ogden performed pretty well
Matt Kirkland (thought he would play 3B, played 1B): 5-6, 2B, 1 BB, 0 K
Scott Schebler: 3-6, HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Joe Maddon
Put in Scott Fuld to pitch the 8th inning, only to take him right out just to give a pitcher in the bullpen more time to warm up. I’ve never seen that before.
coors light is gross
Bud light however…
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
by nolander on Jun 20, 2011 11:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I’d sooner drink Zippo lighter fluid than Coors Light.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Jun 20, 2011 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Kershaw was masterful
Went to the game and i have to say those were the best three dollars ive ever spent
by L.A.JOSHER on Jun 20, 2011 11:32 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Great night to
work late and not see the game. NOT!
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Jun 20, 2011 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Got no run support?
Be a boss and shut the other team down
"Acting is happy agony." -Jean Paul Sartre
Barca Blaugranes- SB Nation's FC Barcelona blog
@shadowking011
by Paul Udani on Jun 21, 2011 12:04 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
What a total gem.
Wow.
A nice night. My soccer team won. I get to come home and watch Kershaw’s beauty (with no spoilers) in the archives, And had a huge piece of carrot cake for a late dinner. A nice night all around. ;-)
One of the truly great moments of a season that hasn’t had too many.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Nice to see some much maligned players contributing
including Uribe, Loney and Navarro (frequent whipping boy of yours truly). He’s not going anywhere for awhile so might as well hope he keeps playing better. And it was a great joy to see Kershaw’s smile after the win, as JL pointed out. Made me smile too.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
It seemed like
all of Clayton’s K’s came from the slider? The progression that pitch has made is ridiculous.
by dodgerpreacher on Jun 21, 2011 12:32 AM PDT reply actions
I think one he got from fastball, 3 i think he got from curve (I know at least 2 did cause miguel cabrera and brad penny just hopelessly swung at two of them), rest i think is mixed between changeup / slider. His changeup is very devastating too, but yeah his slider improved so much it is indeed ridiculous. MLB needs to hurry their ass off and seize the team and with new owner, by next year we need to sign Kershaw to 10 years contract or something (Like that will happen hah)
it was amusing to listen to the tigers announcers
in the 9th, actually figuring out that kershaw might be kind of “good”
it was as though they’d never heard of him before and they were just expecting their big bad lineup to come in and beat on doug davis or something
by lchristmas on Jun 21, 2011 6:29 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Heh
At least Tiger fans (on the blog) were pretty aware of him and respectful. They seemed to know more than the announcers (if you judge by their comments they were happy to hear Vin Scully instead of the regular guys)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I'm glad to see there are respectful fans out there who are smart enough to realize things like that
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
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