Clayton Kershaw had only completed eight innings in one other start this season. But on Tuesday night, a complete-game shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals was well within reach for the Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed ace.
Kershaw took the mound in the ninth inning having allowed just two hits to that point. He’d recorded 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk, and only thrown 92 pitches. Kershaw didn’t flirt with a no-hitter — Yadier Molina singled in the second — but his stuff was certainly to that caliber.
Kershaw induced a season-best 22 swing-and-misses; 10 on a slider, seven on a curveball, and five on fastball.