That feeling where you know that the pitcher’s got his stuff tonight; not the usual “might go 7 or 8 innings and blank his opponent or give up 1 run,” no, I mean that feeling where the pitcher’s “really” got his stuff working tonight.
That feeling that you very well might witness history.
Watching that June 18, 2014 game at my family’s house in Southern California, I got that feeling by the third inning. That patented Clayton Kershaw slider was absolutely sharp, that legendary curve was breaking off the table, and his fastball command was great. Everything was working up to the lofty Kershaw standard; one set after seeing him largely dominate lineups since his debut six years earlier.
But the feeling that it could be better than his already great usual outings wasn’t that far of a stretch.
After sitting guys like Troy Tulowitzki and DJ LeMahieu down and recording five strikeouts through three innings, history most definitely didn’t have to be just a product of one’s imagination.
Inevitably though, most pitchers break. They have one bad pitch, one ball hit just a little too hard off the bat and crawling its way into center, with the chance at history going away with it.
When would that happen here? It just never did.
After the Dodgers increased their lead to 7-0 after three, all focus was turned to the ace from northeast Texas to see just how long he could go.
Three innings and another five strikeouts later, the anticipation was palpable. Nine outs to go.
After striking out the side in the 6th, Kershaw was completely in a rhythm having mowed through a capable Rockies side for 18 almost effortless outs. Perfect game, right?
That changed in the top of the 7th when the speedy Corey Dickerson led off the 7th. He hit an easy grounder to solid shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez pulled the throw to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez’s right, resulting in an error and Dickerson getting to 2nd for the first Rockies’ baserunner of the night.
Not Kershaw’s fault obviously, but for most hurlers, that would’ve been the break. The time when the wheels begin to fall off or at the very least momentum shifts.
Not here.
Kershaw finished off the 7th with two more strikeouts and hit column still unblemished. Six outs to go.
The 8th? More of the same. Strikeouts by Drew Stubbs, Josh Rutledge and a groundout to first from Kyle Parker put Kershaw at 24 outs for the night, 14 of them by the K, and just three outs away.
Two outs from LeMahieu and Charlie Culberson put Kershaw “one miserable, measly out” by Dickerson from etching his name in history, as Vin Scully opined that night.
The 0-2 to Dickerson, and it was so close, just one strike away. How would this finish up?
With an 0-2 count to the previously hot-hitting lefty, the Dodger southpaw went to the trusty slider. 87 mph, it started off as a strike outside and broke away from Dickerson late — just how a pitcher would want it. Dickerson swung through it for out number three, out number 27 for the night, and Kershaw was quickly embracing his wife Ellen.
Jersey with red Gatorade stains, jubilation at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw was now a part of history.
The line: 9 innings, no hits, no walks, 15 strikeouts. Not a perfect game, but one of the greatest games ever thrown in history nonetheless.
Seven years later, and Kershaw has further cemented his place in Dodger history, Cooperstown awaits in the future, and now there’s a World Series ring to go along with his many accolades.
He’s had an incredible career, and on that night he reached the pinnacle of an individual performance.
And if his track record is any indication, he’ll continue to be a great pitcher for the Dodgers as long as he’s with the franchise.
