Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed Clayton Kershaw approached a 3,000 career strikeout on Thursday, inciting five innings against the Colorado Rockies.
Shohei Ohtani attacked the 28th Homer, leading the NL, and the Dodgers defeated the Rockies 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep at Coors Field.
Kershaw has had 2,997 strikeouts in his 18-year career, and is lacking in three ways to become the 20th major leaguer to reach the milestone.
The 37-year-old will be the third active pitcher to reach the mark behind Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Verlander has 3,468 strikeouts in his 20th season. Scherzer has 3,412 players in 18 seasons.
Kershaw hit three in the first two innings on Thursday, winning the fourth in the fifth final. He hit Tyler Freeman in the second of his six innings and left the game after retiring as the next batter. He threw 69 pitches and 41 pitches for the strike.
He scored two strikeouts on a 73 mph curve and got three more on the slider against the Rockies lineup, including all right-handed batters.
The next scheduled start of the Car Show will arrive at Dodger Stadium on July 2nd, facing the Chicago White Sox.
A three-time NL Cy Young Award recipient, the 10-time All-Star received a lot of crowd support in Colorado and received a standing ovation from a portion of the Coors Field crowd when he left the mound after six innings.
Kershaw started eight times this season after being activated from the injured list on May 17, following off-season left knee and foot surgery.
Kershaw led 3-1 and was lining up for his fourth victory. His era fell to a low season 3.03.
The Dodgers sought 1-0 in three innings. Mookie Betts singled in the center right to tie the game together.
Freddie Freeman beat the tie in a go-ahead single at the top of the six innings that won Bets.
Otani hit the 28th home run of the season, second place in the series at the top of the seventh, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
The Rockies ran a tie with the bottom plate in the ninth, but finished the game with a double play after the first-base runner took off from the liner towards second place in the center field.
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The Dodgers travel to Kansas City for a three-game weekend series with the Royals.
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