Clayton Kershaw wins NL Pitcher of the Month for July

Clayton Kershaw had one of the best months of his career in July, and on Monday was named the National League Pitcher of the Month.

It was the second time Kershaw has won the monthly honor. He also captured the award in July 2011, the same season he won the National League Cy Young Award. July 2011 and July 2013, both by Kershaw, are the only two Pitcher of the Month awards won by the Dodgers in the last seven years.

Kershaw was 4-1 with a 1.34 ERA in July. He gave up seven runs in six starts, and had 43 strikeouts and just two walks in 47 innings. Kershaw led the league in innings, wins, ERA and FIP (1.96), and was third in strikeouts and xFIP (2.56) during the month.

He had just the seventh month since 1916 in MLB with at least 40 strikeouts and no more than two walks. Kershaw also pitched the 21st complete game shutout in the history of Coors Field, on July 2.

Kershaw on the season is 10-6 with a 1.87 ERA in 23 starts with 161 strikeouts and 35 walks in 168⅓ innings.

The Dodgers in July had their best month (19-6) since April 1977 (17-3).

This is the third monthly award won by the Dodgers in 2013. Yasiel Puig won both the Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in the NL in June.

The Pitcher of the Month Award began in 1975, and Kershaw is the sixth Dodgers pitcher to win the award at least twice. Orel Hershiser has won the most with four, followed by Don Sutton, Burt Hooton and Fernando Valenzuela with three each. Hideo Nomo, like Kershaw, also won the award twice.

Kershaw starts Tuesday against the Cardinals in the second game of the four-game series at Busch Stadium.