Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw Notches 2000th Strikeout

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw added another milestone in his illustrious career last night, as he notched his 2000th career strikeout.

Heading into last night’s contest with the Milwaukee Brewers, Clayton Kershaw was on the cusp of yet another milestone. The Los Angeles Dodgers star was just four strikeouts away from 2000 on his career, a total that only 78 other pitchers had reached.

It did not take long for Kershaw to reach that milestone. With one out in the second, he struck out Jonathan Villar with a high fastball, recording that 2000th strikeout and becoming the 79th member of the club. When he struck out Jimmy Nelson in the third, Kershaw moved past Andy Benes, who finished his career with exactly 2000 strikeouts to climb further up the ladder.

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Kershaw also became the second fastest pitcher to reach that mark, doing so in his 277th career game. The only pitcher to do so faster was Randy Johnson, who needed just 262 games to record his 2000th strikeout. He also became the fourth pitcher to reach that mark while in a Dodgers uniform, joining Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Don Sutton.

In what was a typically dominant outing, Kershaw allowed just one run on two hits and a walk in seven innings, striking out 14 batters. That brings him to 2010 strikeouts for his career, just two behind Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter. In fact, with a solid outing when next he toes the rubber, Kershaw could surpass four other pitchers and climb up to 74th on the all time list.

Clayton Kershaw has established himself as the most dominant pitcher of his time. As the Los Angeles Dodgers ace continues to climb the all time ranks, he will move further into the inner sanctum of the greatest players in MLB history.