Clayton Kershaw named NL Pitcher of the Month for June

LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday was rewarded for his stellar June by winning the National League Pitcher of the Month award.

Kershaw had the finest month of his career in June, winning all six of his starts, including a no-hitter on June 18 to beat the Rockies, with 15 strikeouts and no walks. In 44 innings in June, Kershaw allowed only four runs on 26 hits, with 61 strikeouts - his career best for any month - and a scant four walks.

He led the major leagues during the month in wins and strikeouts, and tied Cole Hamels for most innings pitched. Opposing batters hit just .165/.185/.234 during June.

Kershaw's 0.82 ERA is the 13th-lowest by a Dodgers pitcher in a single month (minimum 40 innings) dating back to 1914. He ended the month on a 28-inning scoreless streak.

The 61 strikeouts for Kershaw were the most by a Dodgers pitcher since Sandy Koufax in August 1966, and the first 60-strikeout month by a Dodger since Hideo Nomo in June 1995.

Fun fact: if instead of pitching a no-hitter on June 18 Kershaw allowed seven runs without recording an out his ERA for the month would have been 2.82, and his 46 strikeouts would have been tied for the fourth-most in any single month of his career.

It is the third Pitcher of the Month award for Kershaw, who also won in July 2011 and July 2013. He joins Don Sutton, Burt Hooton and Fernando Valenzuela as three-time winners of the award, which began in the National League in 1975. Orel Hershiser, with four awards, is the only Dodgers pitcher to capture the honor more often.