Kershaw allows back-to-back HRs for 1st time in career
Perhaps Clayton Kershaw is human after all.
Kershaw - universally regarded as the best pitcher in the game - didn't have his best stuff Saturday at Coors Field, and the Colorado Rockies made him pay in historic fashion during their 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 29-year-old ace allowed back-to-back home runs to Rockies sluggers Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra in the sixth inning - the first time Kershaw's allowed back-to-back jacks in his illustrious 10-year career.
Reynolds landed the first blow, a two-run shot that gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead. Three pitches later, it was Parra's turn to connect, and he sent Kershaw's 93-mph fastball deep over the center-field wall for the historic back-to-back shot.
The @Rockies hit back-to-back homers in the 6th off Clayton Kershaw. That’s the 1st time he’s given up consecutive HR in his ENTIRE career. pic.twitter.com/hpXveLpiCz
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) April 9, 2017
Kershaw pitched a total of 1,772 1/3 innings before allowing the consecutive home runs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's the first pitcher to throw that many innings before allowing back-to-back shots for the first time since Greg Maddux, who didn't allow consecutive homers for the first 2,806 innings of his career from 1986-98.
Kershaw when told he'd never allowed back-to-back HRs: "I didn’t know that. That was cool for a little bit, I guess"
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 9, 2017
1772 1/3 IP exactly
Colorado clearly had Kershaw's number on this night, as Nolan Arenado also tagged him for a solo shot in the first inning.
This was only the third time in 266 regular-season appearances that Kershaw has allowed three home runs in one game - two of those games have now occurred at Coors Field - and just the 15th time he's given up at least two long balls in the same contest.
Kershaw's 3-HR games over career
| Date | Opponent | HR Hitters | Gm. Score | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/2/2012 | at Rockies | Carlos Gonzalez (2); Wilin Rosario | 49 | 8-5 COL |
| 4/17/2013 | vs. Padres | Everth Cabrera; Chris Denorfia; Kyle Blanks | 39 | 7-2 SD |
| 4/8/2017 | at Rockies | Nolan Arenado; Mark Reynolds; Gerardo Parra | 42 | 4-2 COL |
Kershaw took his first loss of the season in Saturday's contest, having allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out six. He didn't walk a batter, though, and has yet to issue a base on balls in two starts this year.
For his career, Kershaw has allowed only 109 home runs.