Colorado Rockies No-Hit By Los Angeles Dodgers Starter Clayton Kershaw
By Andrew Dill
Jun 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws in the fourth inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
As if losing two-straight heading into Wednesday night’s series finale with the Los Angeles Dodgers could get any worse, the Colorado Rockies would have to go up against ace Clayton Kershaw who ended up throwing his first career no-hitter en route to sweeping the Rockies, 8-0.
Kershaw, 26, was spectacular all night, keeping the Colorado hitters off-balance. He would tie his career-high in strikeouts in the top half of the eighth inning has he struck out Drew Stubbs on a sweeping curveball that was a fantastic pitch. The inning prior to that, he would get Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario on the same hook.
In the same inning where he struck out Stubbs, he would strike out Josh Rutledge on the same breaking ball, reaching a career-high in strikeouts with 14. He would get Rockies first baseman Kyle Parker to ground out to first base to end the side in the eighth.
Colorado would get one runner on base in the top half of the seventh inning as Corey Dickerson was safe at first after a throwing error from Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Dickerson would advance to second base on the throw.
Kershaw would get the lineup of DJ LeMahieu, Charlie Culberson, and Corey Dickerson in the top half of the ninth looking to finish off the deal.
DJ LeMahieu ended up swinging at the first pitch, grounding out to first as Kershaw sat at 102 pitches. Charlie Culberson wasted no time as well, jumping on the first pitch as he popped up to right field. It all came down to Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson who struck out on a pitch in the dirt.
Kershaw’s final line: 9.0 innings, 0 hits, 15 strikeouts.
His no-hitter would be the 12th in Los Angeles Dodgers history, his first career no-hitter as well.