.@ClaytonKersh22 is red hot, and the Angels had no answer. WATCH: http://t.co/wNYi2WeHVY @Headshoulders #Whiff pic.twitter.com/UvZeMn5CF4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 2, 2015
By Jon Weisman
Well, you figured an MVP was going to do well today.
In the first-ever regular-season meeting between reigning Most Valuable Players, pitcher vs. hitter, Clayton Kershaw got the best of Mike Trout, and rolled right on in his latest march toward history.
Setting the tone with a Trout-freezing curveball in the first inning for strike three, then allowing only three baserunners in his eight shutout innings during today’s 3-1 victory over the Angels, Kershaw has extended his current scoreless-innings streak to 37, which is …
- four innings shy of his career high
- 8 2/3 innings shy of Zack Greinke’s Dodger season high
- 22 innings shy of Orel Hershiser’s Major League record.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kershaw is the first pitcher with two single-season scoreless streaks of at least 37 innings since Luis Tiant in 1968 and 1972.
Opponents are hitting .135/.148/.151 during the streak, for an OPS of .299.
Though he did walk his first batter since before the streak began (striking out 46 in between), Kershaw has thrown nine straight innings without a runner getting past first base and 25 straight without a runner getting past second base.
Only eight of the 128 batters Kershaw has faced during the streak have reached scoring position. Only two of 128 have reached third base.
The big lefty’s 2015 ERA is down to 2.37, which marks the first time this season that it is below his career ERA (now 2.47). In 12 starts since May 26, Kershaw has a 1.10 ERA with 119 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 89 2/3 innings, averaging 7.5 innings per start.
oldbrooklynfan
What else is there to say about Kershaw?
Phillip Juarez
Of course Kershaw is AWESOME!!!! Why didn’t or don’t the Dodgers get a REAL closer. Kenly can become the set-up man. Come on Dodgers. do you really want to win a World Series or just tease us fans.
Don Bright
Kenley has been fantastic, he’s been sick the last 2 weeks, but instead of going on the DL he’s gutting it out, and while he has given up runs, has yet to blow a game. He’s also done the job in the playoffs, just DM hasn’t used him enough in them yet.