:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67014511/102612732.jpg.0.jpg)
We’ve reached the third of the month, so it’s appropriate that Clayton Kershaw in his three starts on the third has allowed a total of three runs.
On July 3, 2010, Kershaw and the Dodgers were on the road in Arizona. Los Angeles put this one away earlier, with the six-run rally in the second, one that included Kershaw reaching on an error. He scored on a home run by Matt Kemp.
The D-backs threatened throughout against Kershaw, but he kept them off the scoreboard by holding Arizona to 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. But he also threw at least six pitches to seven batters.
From my game recap:
Kershaw was the beneficiary of all this offense, and he didn’t even allow a run. However, a high pitch count led to an early exit of Kershaw, who was pulled with two outs in the sixth inning with nobody on base. In his 5 2/3 innings, Kershaw allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight.
The Dodgers romped in this one, 14-1.
The Dodgers were home on July 3, 2015 facing the Mets, with a wonderful duel between Kershaw and Noah Syndergaard.
Both pitchers allowed only one run. Adrian Gonzalez homered off Syndergaard, while John Mayberry and Wilmer Flores combined to score off Kershaw. After the run, Kershaw retired 10 of his final 11 batters faced.
From my game recap:
Kershaw walked two batters in the first inning for the first time since June 15, 2013 against Pittsburgh. But neither scored, and the left-hander rebounded to pitch seven strong innings, allowing just a run on five hits, with seven strikeouts.
He didn’t walk a batter after the first inning.
The Dodgers lost this one in the ninth, with a run against Kenley Jansen.
Kershaw’s last July 3 start to date came in 2018, and it featured a David Freese home run at Dodger Stadium. Only it came for the Pirates, and was hit against Yimi Garcia, not Kershaw.
The game was well in hand for the Dodgers by then, thanks to six home runs, including two from Max Muncy.
Kershaw kept the Pirates in the park though did allow two runs in six innings, both driven in on singles by Freese. In just under two months, the Dodgers traded for Freese.
More: Craig Minami’s game recap
In his three starts on July 3, Kershaw has a 1.45 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings.
The outings
2010 (W, 8-4): 5⅔ IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
2015: 7 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
2018 (W, 2-4): 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 strikeouts
Up next: 0, say can you see