Happy 31st birthday to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who threw a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014.
The June 18, 2014, accomplishment came less than a month after the Dodgers’ Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Phillies in Philadelphia. “Beckett told me he’s going to teach me how to do that,” Kershaw said after the game. “So I have Josh to thank.” Kershaw struck out 15 and walked none.
The Texas-born southpaw had a perfect game going in the seventh when shortstop Hanley Ramirez committed a throwing error on a ball hit to him by Corey Dickerson. Kershaw nearly lost the no-hitter soon after when Troy Tulowitzki hit a hard grounder to third, but Miguel Rojas fielded the ball behind the bag and made a long, accurate throw to first, which was aptly scooped by Adrian Gonzalez.
Kershaw, who is questionable for Opening Day due to a shoulder injury, has since taken two no-hitters into the seventh inning but hasn’t been able to duplicate the feat:
- Tuesday, July 4, 2017, 6⅓ innings at Dodger Stadium, Spoiler: Chris Owings, one-out infield hit to second in the seventh inning, Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Arizona Diamondbacks 3
- Thursday, July 23, 2015, 6 innings at Citi Field, Spoiler: Curtis Granderson, single to right to lead off the seventh inning to break up perfect game bid, Los Angeles Dodgers 3, New York Mets 0
