Win #40: Clayton Kershaw Pitches His First No-Hitter

It was a truly magical night at Chavez Ravine on Wednesday June 18th, 2014. Clayton Kershaw completely dominated the Colorado Rockies and pitched the best game of his career and first no-hitter. Kershaw was so very close to pitching a perfect game, but Hanley’s errant throw in the top of the seventh inning erased the chance for the perfecto. Kershaw didn’t walk anyone, and he struck out a career-high and simply incredible 15 strikeouts. The Rockies could barely get any ball out of the infield, and only Corey Dickerson ever touched the base path after reaching second on the Hanley error.

Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher of our generation, and I’m truly grateful that I had the opportunity to watch Kersh make history and listen to Vin Scully call the no-hitter. Unfortunately there are still thousands of Dodger fans unable to watch the games, and it seems like a sin for all Dodger fans not to be able to see Kershaw’s gem. After an up-and-down year which began with Kershaw winning the Opening Day game in Sydney. Kershaw then went on the disabled list for the first time in his career, and he worked his way back from pitching one of his worst starts of his career in Arizona. Tonight felt like redemption. Kershaw pitching a no-hitter at home was written in the script, but it was not until tonight when the page was turned to this moment.

When Josh Beckett pitched his no-hitter on May 25th, I had always thought Kersh would be the first Dodger to pitch a no-hitter since Hideo Nomo.

Jun 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) celebrates after recording the final out of his no hitter against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 8-0.Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Now the Dodgers have had two no-hitters this season, the first time they have accomplished that monumental feet since 1956 when Erskine and Maglie threw no-hitters for Brooklyn.

107 pitches. Easy peasy. With a little help from his one-and-only partner in crime, A.J. Ellis.

Not since Sandy Koufax have we seen a talent like Kershaw. His competitiveness really gives him the edge as he battled past the Hanley error to complete the no-hitter. Not only did Kersh record a no-hitter, but he also helped the Dodgers gain ground against the Giants. The three-game sweep of the Rockies and the winning homestand now puts the Dodgers just 4 games back of the Giants. Could this homestand be the beginning of another record run?

The Dodgers also went on a offensive rampage against Jorge De La Rosa who had an awful game. Kemp and Gonzo drove in four of the eight runs with 5 hits between them, and Puig, Van Slyke, and Rojas each drove in a run each. It was one of those feel-good perfect home games. You can’t get much better than this one.

My eyes are still wet with tears of joy… here’s how each inning went down…

Dodgers  8 9 1

Rockies 0 0 1

WP- Kershaw (7-2)

LP- De La Rosa (6-6)

Clayton Kershaw begins the game with a strikeout, but of course. Corey Dickerson is called out on strikes. Brandon Barnes flies out to Scott Van Slyke in center field on the first pitch he sees. Troy Tulowitzki taps out to second, and the Rockies go down in order versus Kersh. Easy peasy.

Dee Gordon battles Jorge De La Rosa with a eight-pitch at bat to lead-off the bottom of the first with a walk. With Hanley at the plate, Dee Gordon steals his 37th base of the season as he slides ahead of the Rosario throw. De La Rosa is flustered after the Dee steal, and he walks Hanley Ramirez still with no outs then throws away the ball on a pick-off attempt for an error. Gordon scores on a sacrifice fly ball to center field by Yasiel Puig. 1-0 Dodgers. Gonzo grounds out to short, and Hanley advances to third. Matt Kemp is hitting well of late, and he squarely singles to center field bringing home Hanley and the second run of the inning for the Dodgers. Scott Van Slyke flies out to right to end the inning.

Kershaw was sitting for awhile during the previous inning, but he comes up still on fire and strikes out Wilin Rosario to start off the second inning. Drew Stubbs strikes out swinging on a signature Kershaw curve. Josh Rutledge grounds out to second, and that’s six in a row retired by Kershaw.

De La Rosa settles down in the home half of the second, and he is able to retire the Dodgers’ bottom of the lineup in order 1-2-3.

Kersh strikes out Kyle Parker with some heat to open the third inning. DJ LeMahieu also strikes out swinging. De La Rosa lines out to third. Nine

Jun 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) wipes his face after allowing 5 runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Up. Nine Down.

In the bottom of the third, Gordon reaches on an infield single when the off balanced throw by Rosario pulls Parker off the first base bag. The Rockies challenge the play which is overturned after further video review shows that he was out. Josh Rutledge makes a really good play at third with a diving stop on a ball hit to the hot corner and with a great throw he gets Hanley out at first. Puig battles De La Rosa and ends up drawing the two-out walk. Adrian Gonzalez the doubles to the left field corner, and Puig scores! Gonzo ends up making it all the way to third while the Rockies threw the ball to the plate. Kemp then continues the onslaught against De La Rosa and proceeds to double to left field bringing home Gonzo and the second run of the inning for the Dodgers. 4-0 Dodgers. De La Rosa walks both Van Slyke and Ellis, and that prompts a pitching coach visit. The bases are loaded for Miguel Rojas. Rojas then crushes a ball off the left field wall, and the bases are cleared on the double!

“The Dodgers hang a high-five on the scoreboard.” -Vin Scully

Kershaw grounds out to end the five-run third, and he goes back out to the mound in the fourth working on a perfect game. He retires the side in order once again. Kershaw is pitching a gem.

The Dodgers continue to rough up De La Rosa in the bottom of the fourth before he is chased from the game. Gordon strikes out to begin the inning, but Hanley singles and Puig doubles to give the Dodgers runners at second and third with one out. That’s going to be all for De La Rosa who really got hammered by the Dodgers. Franklin Morales, a lefty, will come in to face Gonzo. Gonzo singles to left, his second hit of the game, and HanRam comes home to give the Dodgers a 8-0 lead. Matt Kemp grounds into an inning ending double play.

Kershaw strikes out Rosario for the second time to open the fifth. Stubbs grounds out to short. Rutledge grounds out, and Kersh has retired 15 in a row. He’s made 65 pitches thus far.

Jorge De La Rosa pitched 3 1/3 innings while allowing 8 runs on 6 hits with 1 strikeout and 5 walks on 86 pitches.

Scott Van Slyke leads-off the bottom of the sixth with a single off Morales. A.J. grounds into a force out. Rojas grounds into an inning ending double play.

“Maybe a glimpse of history.”- Vin Scully

Parker strikes out, LeMahieu strikes out, pinch-hitter Ryan Wheeler strikes out. Kershaw has retired 18 in a row.

Chris Martin is in for the bottom of the sixth for the Rox. Kershaw flies out to start it off, but maybe it’s good that he didn’t get on base and tire out. Gordon draws a walk. With Hanley at-bat, Chris Martin commits a balk sending Gordon to second. Hanley ends up flying out. Puig grounds out.

The Kershaw perfecto goes out the window in the seventh after Hanley Ramirez throws away the ball for an error on a Corey Dickerson grounder. Dickerson ends up all the way to second. Barnes strikes out again. Rojas makes a big out on a ball hit to the hot corner by Tulo. Rojas prevents a base hit with an accurate throw to first. Kershaw strikes out Rosario with the slow curve, and he needs just 6 more outs for the no-hitter!

Adam Ottavino comes out of the Colorado bullpen in the bottom of the seventh. Gonzo strikes out. Matt Kemp doubles to left field, and that’s Kemp’s third hit on the night. Ellis flies out.

SportsNetLA shows Ellen Kershaw, Clayton’s wife, watching the game with a somewhat serious look on her face at Dodger Stadium

He’s the one.

Stubbs strikes out to begin the eighth inning, and that ties a career high 13 strikeouts in one game for Kersh! Then he also strikes out Rutledge, and he has 14 strikeouts! Parker grounds out to Gonzo who handles it himself, and Kersh is three outs away from history…

Rex Brothers is in for the bottom of the eighth for the Rockies. Rojas strikes out. Clayton Kershaw comes up to bat to a standing ovation. Kershaw grounds out to short. Gordon line out to center.

Kershaw takes the mound in the top of the ninth. Three outs away from a no-hitter. LeMahieu grounds to Gonzo who shovels the ball to Kershaw for the out at first. Charlie Culberson flies out to Puig in right who uses TWO HANDS to catch the ball. Corey Dickerson strikes out swinging! Kershaw has pitched a no-hitter!

Ellen Kershaw is there at Dodger Stadium to share her husband’s special moment. Kershaw is drenched with Gatorade by his teammates while he is interviewed by Alanna Rizzo.

The Dodgers win their 40th game of the year, and they inch up to 4 games behind the Giants in the division standings. Thursday the Dodgers take a day off before leaving on a six-day road trip beginning on Friday in San Diego.

What an incredible night to be a Dodger fan.