Dodgers News: Padres Fernando Tatis Jr Praises Clayton Kershaw After Friday’s Multi Home Run Game
The San Diego Padres got the best of the Dodgers on Friday night, in the first matchup of 13 against the teams this season. The Padres were fueled by Fernando Tatis Jr., who hit two home runs and drove in three RBIs against Dodgers ace and reigning National League Pitcher of the Month Clayton Kershaw.
Tatis Jr., of course, wasn’t a part of the Padres’ success last season, as he injured himself in a motorcycle accident early in the season, and then got busted for using performance enhancing drugs, leading to an 80-game suspension.
Tatis Jr. made his return to the Padres a few weeks ago, and in his first game against the division rival Dodgers, turned out to be the hero.
While Tatis Jr. was dancing around the bases during his home runs, after the game, he had a lot of respect for the Dodgers’ longtime ace (per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register).
“Facing one of the best all time, we’ve got to bring our best. Our lineup was fighting him from top to bottom,” Tatis Jr. said about facing Clayton Kershaw. “Like I said, he’s one of the best of all time. You’ve got to bring your best when you’re facing that guy.”
It’s nice to know that the Padres players at least respect the greatness that is Clayton Kershaw, because the people who run the Padres video board definitely don’t.
But the people who know baseball understand that Kershaw is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and even in year 16, still looks as dominant as ever.
The Padres did a great job of forcing Kershaw to throw a lot of pitches, and making him throw strikes. Kershaw had an uncharacteristic performance allowing five walks, but this was his first bad start of the season.
There’s no reason to worry about Kershaw, the same reason there’s no reason to worry about an early-May loss to a divisional opponent. But it’s always nice to hear the opposition praise Kershaw, especially when the stadium workers were so disrespectful to him.
I think it’s good to remind everyone with the Padres that Clayton Kershaw has been a part of more playoff wins than their entire franchise. He also was more World Series rings than their entire franchise.
The Dodgers have won 61 playoff games since Kershaw’s debut season in 2008. Kershaw, himself, has been the winning pitcher of 13 playoff games in his career. The Padres have only won 20 playoff games in their entire history.
And, of course, Kershaw has one World Series ring, and the Padres have zero. So hopefully the Padres (for once) take a page out of Tatis’ book, and give Kershaw the respect he deserves.
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