Written by David Schoenfield at ESPN.com
Clayton Kershaw knows how to put an exclamation point on the first half. And the Houston Astros definitely put an exclamation point on theirs … or 19 of them, to be precise.
Kershaw the Magnificent tossed his first complete game of 2017, striking out 13 in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Somehow he managed to throw only 99 pitches despite that many strikeouts. In fact …
Clayton Kershaw is the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out at least 13 in a complete game with fewer than 100 pitches.
— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) July 9, 2017
It was his 21st career game with at least 10 K’s and no walks, tying Roger Clemens for third all time behind only Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Kershaw is now 14-2 with a 2.18 ERA and he’s on pace for 25 victories, has won seven consecutive starts and, since that four-homer game against the New York Mets that had everyone wondering what’s up with him, he has pitched 29 innings in four games with 44 strikeouts, five walks and three runs.
Those are the numbers and they’re obviously wonderful, but with Kershaw we can look beyond the statistics and just appreciate the art of his ability. How often do we get to see one of the best ever at his craft? The numbers and the wins are the end result, like seeing a Picasso in a museum, but with Kershaw we get to see the action as the canvas comes to life.
I think that four-homer game was an insult to him. Even though he won, it was almost an embarrassment. He can look over his shoulder and see arguments for Max Scherzer or Chris Sale as the best starter in the game, and while Kershaw doesn’t have the ego to suggest it publicly, you know he wants to be the best. The great ones do.
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