With Fourth of July fireworks popping in the distance and plumes of red sparks piercing the sky above the darkening hills behind Dodger Stadium, Clayton Kershaw staged his own pyrotechnics display on the pitching mound Tuesday night.
Every start by Kershaw carries with it the tantalizing promise of becoming something special, of turning into a double-digit strikeout masterpiece or a thrilling no-hitter. He has the power to make the best hitters look foolish and to bring a sellout crowd of 53,159 to a hushed silence, and he accomplished both of those difficult tasks by striking out 11 over seven scoreless and suspenseful innings in the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over Arizona.