Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw put on a vintage performance Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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The veteran southpaw allowed one run on six hits, no walks, and threw seven strikeouts across five frames. It was Kershaw’s best start of the season as he tossed four scoreless innings before allowing a run in the fifth.
The three-time Cy Young winner’s seven strikeouts put him just 17 shy of 3,000. Kershaw would become the 20th member of the 3,000 strikeout club if he were to reach the feat this season.
Before Kershaw helped the Dodgers avoid the sweep, the Cardinals chose to replay one of the left-hander’s few low moments of his career. The video board showed Kershaw giving up a three-run home run to Matt Adams from the 2014 National League Division Series.
“I think it’s a little bush league, but I don’t expect anything less from these guys,” Kershaw said. “So, it’s no worries.”
Perhaps the pregame taunt served as motivation for the veteran as he put on his best performance thus far in 2025.
This is not the first time a team has tried to poke fun at the 18-year veteran; however, the results speak for themselves. The Dodgers defeated the Cardinals 7-3 Sunday, before returning to California for a three-game set against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park beginning Monday night.
Kershaw has a 4.35 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 1.548 WHIP across five starts this season. The lefty began the season on the injured list as he recovered from two offseason surgeries, but made an early return in May.
The Dodgers have endured a slew of injuries to the pitching staff, which has left them with three staple starters remaining in the rotation: ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May, and Kershaw.
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Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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3 Responses
Kersh WAS the DODGER DAWG OF THE GAME! Hope everyone shows clips of his worst experiences if it motivates him to pitch like he did against the Cardinals. Stupid move on their part…
It worked out for the MVP it got him his first W of the season and best start of 2025!
The Cardinals should have learned from the Padres about what happens when you troll Clayton Kershaw…