As Clayton Kershaw descended the mound, the fans rose to their feet.
By the time Kershaw crossed foul territory on his way to his team’s dugout Monday night, most of Dodger Stadium was serenading him with a standing ovation.
“I honestly was a little too frustrated to notice,” Kershaw said.
He might be 34 and more reflective than he used to be, but his fundamental nature remains the same.
Kershaw is a competitor.
So, five days after pitching seven perfect innings in his first start of the season, he was smoldering in the wake of his departure from the Dodgers’ 7-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.