The Los Angeles Dodgers wouldn't have won Sunday if Clayton Kershaw wasn't in the batting order.
Not only did the southpaw ace record 14 strikeouts on his way to a complete-game shutout against the San Diego Padres, he also drove in the game's only run in the 1-0 win. The much-needed victory also put an end to a nasty six-game losing slide for the Dodgers.
Kershaw swears he was only trying to be effective, though.
"I never try to do too much. I just try to do something," he told reporters after the game.
The all-inclusive effort makes Kershaw the first Dodgers pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1984 to throw a complete-game shutout while driving in his team's only run. Had he thrown two fewer pitches on the day, Kershaw would have claimed the rare feat of a "Maddux" - a complete-game shutout thrown in 99 pitches or less.
With Sunday's win, Kershaw improves to 3-1 in six starts this season, but it's beyond the record where the Dodgers hurler is truly shining this season, averaging nearly 20 times more strikeouts than walks:
GS | ERA | WHIP | Opp. Avg | K/BB |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 1.96 | 0.72 | .182 | 18.0 |
But, you know, it's not much.