Clayton Kershaw explained why he was OK with getting pulled after 7 innings of a perfect game
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has thrown a no-hitter in his big-league career, but a perfect game would have been a true milestone achievement for his Cooperstown-bound resume. Kershaw was OK with passing up on a golden opportunity for that perfect game, though.
During Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, Kershaw was absolutely dealing. He pitched seven perfect innings with 13 strikeouts on 80 pitches. He was just six outs away from history, but the Dodgers opted to go to the bullpen instead.
Reliever Alex Vesia ended up allowing a hit and walking a batter, so the bid for a combined perfect game or no-hitter ended in the eighth inning. And while MLB fans were understandably upset about the decision to pull Kershaw, the Dodgers ace seemed to agree with the decision. He explained why to reporters after the game, which Los Angeles won, 7-0.
Kershaw said:
“It was hard. I feel bad for (catcher Austin Barnes). He did such a great job and it’s fun to get to catch one of those. So, I wanted to do it with Barnesey. It’d be special. But at the end of the day, those are individual things. Those are selfish goals. We’re trying to win, and that’s really all we’re here for. And as much as I would have wanted to do it, I’ve thrown 75 pitches in a sim game. I hadn’t gone six innings — let alone seven. And sure, I would have loved to have do it. Maybe we’ll get another chance, who knows? … I would have loved to have stayed, but bigger things, man, bigger things.”
The MLB lockout and shortened spring training had Kershaw — and many pitchers — off their regular preparation schedule. Kershaw said that he only had 75 pitches in a simulated game to work off of recently. So, while he admitted he would have loved to go for history, he was OK with Dave Roberts keeping the bigger picture of a long season in mind.
It was the kind of perspective you don’t see too often with a chance at perfection.