"Clayton Kershaw's Nashville Hustle"
Dodgers prevail over Giants, with Kershaw pitching a stellar game and Ohtani hitting two home runs.
On a night of where the Dodgers shone bright, it was none other than the venerable face that stole the show.
At 37, and in his 18th MLB season, Clayton Kershaw, the future Hall of Famer, can still toss pitches with pinpoint accuracy, intuitively mix his three-pitch arsenal, and pitch - the real deal - his way through a big-league outing.
The "Big Dawg" was determined to be a part of this season, even after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2023 and toe and knee procedures in 2024. He's not only taken his spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation but has been essential, compensating for a slew of injuries in the season's opening two months.
And on Saturday, when given a comfortable early lead against the San Francisco Giants, he knew just what to do. Pitching a masterful seven-inning, three-hit, five-strikeout gem in the Dodgers' 11-5 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Saturday was, by no means, a formidable challenge for Kershaw. He was squaring off against a Giants lineup ranking 25th in the majors in batting average, had the luxury of a six-run lead by the top of the third, and the assignment, at that point, was straightforward: Keep the Dodgers' significant lead intact and avoid letting it slip away.
No biggie, right? Well, Kershaw had dominated tasks like this countless times before.
Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts noted a few keys for Kershaw against the Giants prior to the game. An aggressive team, Roberts expected early contact that would demand precision on pitches in the strike zone. Also, he emphasized the abundance of right-handed bats in San Francisco's lineup, stating, "We're gonna need the slider tonight."
Kershaw followed Roberts' advice and went to work. He swiftly retired the first three hitters, with the leadoff batter in the second inning grounding into a double-play.
By the time Kershaw came back for the third inning, the Dodgers had already jumped ahead. Ohtani ignited the offense with his seventh leadoff home run of the season, and the Dodgers relentlessly assaulted Giants starter Landen Roupp, generating five runs in the second inning.
With a 6-0 lead in hand, Kershaw settled in. He efficiently handled the third, snuffing out a leadoff double by stranding the runner and collecting the first of his five strikeouts.
His dominant performance continued through the fifth inning, ending the frame by deceiving Tyler Fitzgerald with a pair of eye-popping curveballs.
In total, Kershaw generated eight swings-and-misses on the night, further showcasing the strides he's made since his seven-strikeout performance against the St. Louis Cardinals the previous week.
Despite his advanced age, Kershaw's average fastball velocity dipped slightly, but his ability to silence Giants' batters remained undeterred. He buckled down and posted a scoreless seventh, retiring nine of his last ten batters en route to his first seven-inning start since 2023.
Whilst prime Kershaw might be a relic of the past, the lefthander demonstrated once again that he's still capable of greatness on any given night. This vintage performance served as another reminder that age is nothing but a number to legends like Kershaw.
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