Snapshots: From 3,000 Ks to All-Stars

Snapshots: From 3,000 Ks to All-Star selections

Clayton Kershaw tips his cap to the Dodger Stadium crowd on July 2 after his 3,000th career strikeout against the Chicago White Sox. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Mark Langill

Clayton Kershaw entered the Dodgers’ last homestand with 2,997 strikeouts, which meant the countdown to the left-hander becoming the 20th member of Major League Baseball’s 3,000 strikeout club could have ended in the first inning of his July 2 start against the Chicago White Sox.

Fans, though, were able to settle into their theater seats as the drama unfolded. Kershaw reached the milestone on his 100th and final pitch of the evening when he caught Chicago’s Vinny Capra looking at a called third-strike slider to end the sixth inning.

Kershaw left the game trailing 4–1, but the Dodgers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning for a walk-off 5–4 victory.

Kershaw’s 3,000th strikeout was the highlight of a homestand from July 1–6 in which the Dodgers went 3–3 against the White Sox and Astros. After the Dodgers swept the last-place White Sox, Los Angeles was swept by first-place Houston for the first time since May 9–11, 2008.

Before the homestand finale, five Dodgers were named to the National League All-Star team: Kershaw, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman and designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani.

Yamamoto scattered one run on three hits in seven innings during a 6–1 victory on July 1. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

On July 1, Ohtani hit his National League-leading 30th home run in the fourth inning, a shot to center field that traveled 408 feet. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

As he prepared to step into the history books, Kershaw wore his Father’s Day shoes with the names of his family members. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

(Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers) and (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

In six innings against the White Sox, Kershaw allowed four runs on nine hits. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Smith supported Kershaw on July 2 with his 11th home run of the season. It was his fifth home run in an 11-game span. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Hyeseong Kim stole his eighth base of the season on July 2 against the White Sox. (Gary Vasquez/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Kershaw walks toward the dugout moments after his 3,000th career strikeout to end the sixth inning on July 2. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Manager Dave Roberts congratulates Kershaw after his 3,000th strikeout. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Kershaw waves to his family members after reaching the milestone. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers) and (Katie Chin/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Freeman’s walk-off single in the ninth inning gave the Dodgers a 5–4 victory. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

After the game, Kershaw was given the pitching rubber removed from the dirt mound. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers and Gary Vasquez/Los Angeles Dodgers)

A giant American flag is unfurled before the July 4 game against the Astros. (Gary Vasquez/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By the July 4 twilight, Houston provided the fireworks during an 18–1 victory. The 17-run margin was the worst loss in Dodger Stadium history. Pitching coach Mark Prior consults with reliever Jack Dreyer as Smith and second baseman Tommy Edman look on. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers) and (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

On July 5, Ohtani started against Houston and pitched two scoreless innings.(Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

In his first four appearances, Ohtani has a 1.50 ERA and has not allowed a run since his season pitching debut on June 16. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Freeman reached first base in the fifth inning on July 5 after a strikeout and a passed ball. He then stole his first base of the season and 99th of his career. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Snapshots: From 3,000 Ks to All-Stars was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.