When Clayton Kershaw made his major league debut as a promising 20-year-old, he quickly earned recognition for his exceptional talent and devastating curveball. Fast forward to Wednesday, and he entered a rarefied air by becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB history to strike out an impressive 3,000 batters. This remarkable milestone was achieved in the sixth inning of the game, on his 100th pitch—a 1-and-2 slider that the Chicago White Sox’s Vinny Capra took for a called strike. Following this pivotal moment, Kershaw walked off the mound, reflecting on his achievement before being celebrated by his teammates on the warning track.
The Los Angeles Dodgers commemorated Kershaw’s accomplishment with a special video showcasing his extensive career highlights, displayed on the video boards above the outfield pavilions. Just an hour later, the Dodgers had even more to celebrate when Freddie Freeman delivered a two-out RBI single, capping off a thrilling three-run ninth-inning rally for a walk-off 5-4 victory.
“It’s the last box for Clayton to check in his tremendous career,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, emphasizing the rarity of such achievements. “You’ve got to stay healthy, you’ve got to be good early in your career, you’ve got to be good for a long time,” he added. Roberts, who expressed admiration for Kershaw’s consistency, noted that it’s unlikely many pitchers will join the 3K club in the future.
Roberts managed the game with Kershaw’s milestone in mind, allowing him to pitch into the sixth inning despite already having thrown 92 pitches, the highest pitch count for Kershaw in over two years. Kershaw faced a total of 27 batters, needing only eight more pitches to reach the milestone. “It’s a little bit harder when you’re actually trying to strike people out,” Kershaw reflected. “I never really did that before.” He noted how the sellout crowd of 53,536 was behind him, “They wanted it for me so bad,” he said, acknowledging the palpable tension in the stadium.
The Dodgers entered the ninth inning trailing 4-2 but managed to load the bases with no outs, thanks to a single from Michael Conforto and walks drawn by Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim. Shohei Ohtani then drove in one run with a ground ball to second base, hustling to avoid a double play. Following Ohtani, Mookie Betts delivered a sacrifice fly, bringing Edman home to tie the game. Ohtani later stole second base and scored on Freeman’s clutch single to right field, preventing Kershaw from suffering his first loss of the season.
However, the Dodgers faced a potential setback when Max Muncy was injured after a hard slide from the White Sox’s Michael Taylor on the first pitch of the Capra at-bat. Muncy, who had been performing exceptionally with a .333 batting average in June, left the game favoring his left knee. His condition remains uncertain, but Roberts expressed optimism that it might only be a sprain. Taylor also exited the game due to a left shoulder contusion.
Earlier that day, Kershaw received a thunderous ovation as he stepped onto the field for warm-ups, about 40 minutes before the game began. The loudest cheer came when he made his way out of the dugout to start the sixth inning. “The energy in the crowd was definitely palpable,” Kershaw recalled. “That ovation was something that I’ll never forget, for sure.”
The White Sox, however, were determined to disrupt Kershaw’s night. They pushed him to labor through a demanding 29-pitch first inning, where he faced six batters, allowing one run and three hits. Fortunately, a leaping catch by Conforto prevented a potential three-run home run by Lenyn Sosa.
The Dodgers quickly equalized the score when Will Smith, recently announced as an All-Star starter alongside Freeman and Ohtani, hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning. However, the White Sox retaliated, taking the lead again with a two-run homer from Austin Slater in the third inning. Despite giving up a season-high nine hits, Kershaw's historic night ended positively with a win and a cherished place in baseball history. “It’s an incredible list,” Kershaw expressed. “I’m super, super grateful to be a part of it.”
Before the game, the Dodgers also received updates on injured pitchers Blake Snell and Blake Treinen, who threw to hitters for the first time since being placed on the injured list in April. Snell has been recovering from shoulder inflammation, while Treinen has dealt with forearm tightness. Roberts mentioned that both pitchers looked good and are scheduled to continue their rehabilitation. Additionally, Tyler Glasnow, also out since April, is set to make his third minor league rehab start for Oklahoma City.
