Introduction to a Legendary Career
When Clayton Kershaw made his major league debut as a gangly 20-year-old with a devastating curveball, he was considered a one-in-a-million talent.
A Milestone Achievement
On Wednesday he entered a much smaller club, becoming the 20th pitcher in history to strike out 3,000 batters. The milestone came in the sixth inning on his 100th pitch of the night, a 1-and-2 slider the Chicago White Sox’s Vinny Capra took for a called strike.
Celebration and Team Support
Kershaw then walked off the mound alone with his thoughts before being mobbed by his teammates on the warning track in front of the dugout. The Dodgers marked the moment with a video of his considerable career highlights on the video boards above the outfield pavilions.
A Win to Top it All
An hour later the Dodgers had even more to celebrate when Freddie Freeman’s two-out RBI single capped a three-run ninth-inning rally in a 5-4 win.
Manager’s Perspective
“It’s the last box for Clayton to check in his tremendous career,” said Dodger manager Dave Roberts, who doubted many more pitchers will ever join the 3K club.
“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 said. “I’m a fan first and I’ve kind of appreciated longevity and moments like that, as opposed to one moment in time. The consistency is something that should be valued.”
Managing for the Milestone
Roberts said before the game he would manage differently as Kershaw approached the milestone and he did, allowing him to start the sixth inning despite having made 92 pitches, the most he’s thrown in a game in more than two years.
He would need just eight more.
The Game’s Turning Points
The Dodgers entered the ninth trailing 4-2 but loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Michael Conforto and walks to Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim.
Shohei Ohtani drove in one run on a ground ball to second, hustling up the line to avoid the double play. Mookie Betts followed with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left-center to score Edman with the tying run.
Ohtani then stole second, scoring two batters later on Freeman’s single to right.
Concerns and Injuries
That kept Kershaw, who gave up a season-high nine hits, from taking his first loss of the season. But the Dodgers may have suffered an even bigger loss on the first pitch of the Capra at-bat when Chicago’s Michael Taylor slid hard into Max Muncy on an unsuccessful attempt to steal third.
Muncy, who hit a team-high .333 in June, writhed on the ground before being helped off the field, favoring his left knee. Roberts said after the game a preliminary evaluation left the team optimistic Muncy suffered a sprain and not a more severe injury. He is scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday to help confirm the extent of the injury. Taylor also left the game with a left shoulder contusion.
The Road to History
Nearly three hours earlier Kershaw had been greeted by a loud ovation when he stepped onto the field to stretch about 40 minutes before game time. The sellout crowd of 53,536 also roared every time he got the count to two strikes, trying to will their way to history.
The White Sox, meanwhile, wanted no part of the party. They forced Kershaw to labor through a 29-pitch first inning in which he faced six hitters, giving up a run and three hits. And it could have been worse, with a leaping Conforto robbing Lenyn Sosa of a three-run home run at the bullpen gate in left field for the final out.
Strikeout No. 3,000
Strikeout No. 3,000!
Clayton Kershaw becomes the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/mD7tM1POJC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 3, 2025
Other Game Highlights
Will Smith, announced as an All-Star starter along with Freeman and Ohtani earlier in the day, got that run back with two out in the bottom of the first, lining a full-count pitch into the left-field bleachers. White Sox opener Brandon Eisert did not return for the second inning and Andy Pages greeted his replacement rudely, driving Sean Burke’s first pitch over the wall in center for his 17th homer.
The Dodgers’ lead was short-lived, however, with Chase Meidroth opening the Chicago third with a single, then trotting home on Austin Slater’s two-run homer. Chicago added another run later in the inning on a one-out double from Andrew Benintendi and an RBI single from Edgar Quero.
Etc.
Before Wednesday’s game, pitchers Blake Snell and Blake Treinen threw to hitters for the first time since going on the injured list in April. Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation April 6 while Treinen has been sidelined with forearm tightness since April 19. “They’ll go again in a couple days,” Roberts said. “But both guys looked really good.” Right-hander Tyler Glasnow, also out since April shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to make his third minor league rehab start for Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Staff writer Ira Gorawara contributed to this report.
Conclusion
Clayton Kershaw’s achievement of 3,000 career strikeouts is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and longevity in the game. This milestone marks a significant moment in his career, solidifying his position among the all-time greats in baseball history.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Clayton Kershaw?
- A: Clayton Kershaw is a professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Q: What milestone did Clayton Kershaw achieve?
- A: Clayton Kershaw achieved the milestone of 3,000 career strikeouts, becoming the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to do so.
- Q: How did the Dodgers celebrate Kershaw’s milestone?
- A: The Dodgers celebrated Kershaw’s milestone with a video of his career highlights on the video boards above the outfield pavilions and a mob of teammates congratulating him on the field.
- Q: What was the outcome of the game?
- A: The Dodgers won the game 5-4, with Freddie Freeman’s two-out RBI single capping a three-run ninth-inning rally.
- Q: Are there any concerns about player injuries?
- A: Yes, Max Muncy suffered a potential left knee sprain and is scheduled for an MRI, while Michael Taylor left the game with a left shoulder contusion.
