Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Harold Castro #30 of the Detroit Tigers wears a funny hat after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 during a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Right fielder Austin Meadows #17 of the Detroit Tigers makes the catch in front of teammate centerfielder Derek Hill #54 of the Detroit Tigers on a drive by Trea Turner (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
in the xxx inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Detroit Tigers scores on a RBI single by teammate Tucker Barnhart #15 of the Detroit Tigers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks with Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers prior to a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Former Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Mota, left, and Bill Russell look on during a ceremony inducting Kirk Gibson into the Legends of Dodger Baseball prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wraps his arm in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after giving up a run against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ceremony inducting Kirk Gibson into the Legends of Dodger Baseball prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after giving up a run against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds third base after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammate Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tips his cap after striking out Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers for his 2,697th passing Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton to become the All-Time Dodgers strike out leader in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches to Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers and would strike him out for his 2,697th passing Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton to become the All-Time Dodgers strike out leader in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers for his 2,697th passing Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton to become the All-Time Dodgers strike out leader in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tips his cap after striking out Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers for his 2,697th passing Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton to become the All-Time Dodgers strike out leader in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dodgers fans cheer as Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers for his 2,697th passing Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton to become the All-Time Dodgers strike out leader in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tips his cap after striking out Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers for his 2,697th passing Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton to become the All-Time Dodgers strike out leader in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Bench coach Bob Geren of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers General manager Brandon Gomes, left, with Bench coach Bob Geren of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Bench coach Bob Geren of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers with announcer Joe Davis prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Bench coach Bob Geren of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hat, batting gloves and bats prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Now a rookie with the Detroit Tigers, 22-year-old Spencer Torkelson was finishing up third grade when the count started for Clayton Kershaw.
Skip Schumaker — a future teammate — was Kershaw’s first big-league strikeout victim back in May 2008. When Torkelson swung and missed at a trademark Kershaw slider near his feet in the fourth inning Saturday night (striking out for the second time in his first two at-bats against Kershaw), he became Kershaw’s 2,697th victim Saturday night as Kershaw passed Don Sutton and become the Dodgers’ all-time leader in strikeouts.
Strike three to Torkelson drew a roar from the 52,613 fans in attendance. As his achievement was heralded on the video boards, the standing ovation continued long enough for Kershaw to acknowledge the crowd with a wave of his cap.
“I didn’t really expect it,” Kershaw said of the crowd’s reaction after the Dodgers went on to lose 5-1 to the Detroit Tigers. “I understand that the Dodgers are a historic franchise. They’ve been around a long time so the guys on that list I was fortunate to pass, it’s a big deal. But I didn’t know the fans would know or honestly care that much. So it was special for me. It really was.”
With that, Kershaw went back to work, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks (his first of the season) in six innings while striking out seven in all.
It continued a start that even Kershaw said he didn’t expect during a winter spent wondering if his elbow would recover enough for him to pitch again. According to STATS Inc., Kershaw is the first pitcher since Christy Mathewson in 1908 to go undefeated in his first four starts with 30 or more strikeouts and two or fewer walks while holding batters to an average under .200.
“I don’t want to just pitch to pitch. It’s not a goal of mine to stick around. I don’t have any interest in just sticking around to be around,” Kershaw said of accumulating late-career milestones. “I want to be here to contribute to a team that might win a World Series. That’s what I want to do. And if either of those things aren’t around, I don’t see myself sticking around.
“If I’m not helpful, I won’t be here. So I’m glad that I’ve had a good start to the season. But we’ve got a long way to go.”
Kershaw’s franchise record strikeout total includes 2,007 against right-handed batters, 693 against left-handers who were unable to avoid the matcup. So far, 1,468 have come at Dodger Stadium, 1,232 on the road — at 30 different stadiums in three countries (the United States, Canada and Australia).
Saturday night’s seven Ks moved his career total to 2,700 even, a milestone that only 26 pitchers in baseball history have reached.
“The first thing I’ll say is any time you get to do something individual record-wise, the people around you to help you celebrate are what matters most,” he said. “So to have my teammates care about that, to have my family here care about that and then to see the fans care about it as much as they did — all of those things made it special.
“Not a great game. I wish we’d have won. But it was a great moment for me personally. I’ll remember that for a long time, for sure.”
The Dodgers’ offense took the night off, ceding the spotlight to Kershaw.
Mookie Betts led off with a solo home run in the first inning (his 30th career leadoff homer, 10th with the Dodgers). The Dodgers had just three more hits in the game, only one after the fourth inning.
The game was tied 1-1 when Kershaw left after six innings. The Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t keep it that way, allowing a season-high four runs over the final three innings.
Reliever Evan Phillips hit the first batter he faced in the seventh inning and gave up a single to Harold Castro. He struck out the next two (including a foul bunt) and was on the verge of escaping damage when Javier Baez shot an RBI double down the first-base line.
Brusdar Graterol replaced Phillips and walked Miguel Cabrera to load the bases then broke Austin Meadows’ bat with a first-pitch cutter. With the infield shifted to the right against the left-handed Meadows, however, the 73.6 mph grounder rolled through the hole in the left side and onto the outfield grass, allowing two more runs to score.
The Dodgers have lost three of their past four games, scoring a total of 10 runs in those games (half of them in Friday’s win) against two teams (the Diamondbacks and Tigers) whose pitching staffs are not likely to win any awards.
“I think that’s very honest and that’s right on,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I don’t have a direct answer as to why we’re having trouble putting innings together and finishing innings. … I understand it’s baseball. But we have to be better. The bottom line is that every game matters and results matter.
“The leadoff man homers and we really didn’t threaten much.”
