Clayton Kershaw wins 200th game as Dodgers shut out Mets

LOS ANGELES-- The first win of Clayton Kershaw's profession was unlike his 200th in some ways, however possibly the most important was this: his teammates smashed a shaving cream pie in his face to christen the event.

" Hopefully," Kershaw stated on July 27, 2008, "there's more to come."

5 ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards, one National League MVP and one championship ring later on, Kershaw notched win number 200 on a cool April night at Dodger Stadium, joining Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Max Scherzer as the just active pitchers to reach the milestone.

Kershaw's efficiency was a familiar one. He did not allow a run for seven innings, starting out nine New York Mets in a 5-0 win. J.D. Martinez hit 2 crowning achievement, driving in four of the five runs prior to a revealed crowd of 46,884 at Dodger Stadium.

After setting out Tommy Pham to end a significant seventh inning on his 105th pitch, Kershaw pumped and uttered a primal scream both fists in the air as he walked off the mound.

" I don't know if it was the moment or what," he stated. "It was kind of a huge moment in the video game more than anything.

Kershaw's 105 pitches were his most in a video game because June 16, 2021. He tossed a first-pitch strike to 19 of the 24 batters he faced. For 6 innings, the only struck he allowed was an infield single to Francisco Lindor.

The seventh inning was an adventure.

Lindor battled for 9 pitches before starting out on a hanging slider. Pete Alonso struck out on the 3rd pitch of his at-bat. The next batter, Mark Canha, fouled off seven pitches with a complete count before punching a single into right field to extend the inning.

Kershaw allowed another single to Jeff McNeil, putting runners on third and first. He came back to strike out Tommy Pham on a timeless slider to end the inning. The 2,833 rd strikeout of Kershaw's career connected Mickey Lolich for 22nd all-time.

" Tonight's performance really sort of exemplified who he is as a competitor," Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.

When ideal fielder Jason Heyward dropped a fly ball off the bat of Brandon Nimmo, the video game began. Nimmo reached 3rd base by the time Heyward passed on the ball back to the infield, immediately putting Kershaw into the stretch position.

Setting a tone for the game to come, Kershaw struck out Starling Marte, Lindor, and Alonso to end the inning and strand Nimmo at third base.

" I'm not actually attempting to prevent that run, certainly," he stated. "I'm simply trying to keep it to one. But after you get that very first strikeout you type of maybe think you'll be able to do it. "

The Mets threatened to score again in the eighth inning versus Evan Phillips. With a runner on first base, second baseman Miguel Vargas leaped to catch a Brett Baty line drive, then tossed rapidly to very first baseman Freddie Freeman to double up pinch runner Francisco Alvarez.

Brusdar Graterol pitched a scoreless ninth to finish the shutout, and seal the milestone triumph for Kershaw.

Back in the clubhouse, a champagne toast waited for Kershaw. Catcher Austin Barnes and very first baseman Freddie Freeman each spoke. Numerous souvenirs from the video game were verified for Kershaw to keep: some game-used balls, including the last out; the main lineup card and 3 reproductions; his jersey and spikes.

Kershaw's better half Ellen and his children praised him outside the clubhouse. They had been planning for the moment.

" I believe after the last (win) Ellen was attempting to choose whether to remain or go back house to school," he stated. "We began thinking about it then. I told her, it's not a warranty, however she remained, which I'm happy for."

Martinez's 2 home runs staked Kershaw (3-1) to an early 3-0 lead against Tylor Megill (3-1). The veteran designated hitter ended up 4 for 5 as the Dodgers' number-3 hitter.

In the eighth inning, Barnes strolled, took 2nd base, went to 3rd on a single by James Outman, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Martinez then drove in Outman with a single to right-center field, offering the last score.

Others in Kershaw's mate have extended their professions by discovering something new: Greinke a new pitch, Verlander a new elbow ligament. Kershaw has no new pitches. His average fastball velocity is essentially unchanged for the last five seasons.

His efficiency Tuesday was vintage. He's enabled three hits or less in a start of seven innings or more on 65 events. Only Nolan Ryan (134 ), Roger Clemens (80 ), Randy Johnson (78) and Tom Seaver (66) have more.

" Tonight is really cool since it's a team stat: a win. So for me to be able to do that 200 times is simply an item of being on some fantastic groups," Kershaw said. "That's why I actually like tonight."