Clayton Kershaw gets 3,000th strikeout milestone against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium
'It's the last box for Clayton to check in his tremendous career,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. 'He's never been a person to look for kind of acknowledgment or attention, but he's earned that whether he likes it or not.'
The crowd was on its feet, roaring as the Los Angeles Dodgers star walked off the mound to end the inning. He paused and doffed his cap, with teammates briefly holding off hugging him to allow him to soak in the cheers.
Kershaw waved to his wife and four children in the stands and then patted his heart and mouthed, 'Thank you.'
The game was delayed while a tribute video played.
Capra, hitting ninth, was retired on four pitches, with plate umpire Jim Wolf calling the third strike on a slider, Kershaw's 100th pitch of the night. Wolf is the brother of retired pitcher Randy Wolf, once a teammate of Kershaw's.
Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas makes 'special' return to Dodger Stadium — and picks up a World Series ringKershaw retired Lenyn Sosa on three pitches for his 2,999th strikeout in the fifth. Sosa fouled off Kershaw's first two pitches before striking out on a 72 mph curveball to end the inning.
In the third, Miguel Vargas took called strikes on his first two pitches before he swung and missed on another 72-mph curveball from his former Dodgers teammate.
The White Sox swung aggressively against Kershaw, who gave up a two-run homer to Austin Slater and two more runs as Chicago led 4-2 after six innings.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Time for another 2016 Chicago Cubs homecoming — but things could get awkward for Willson Contreras
Willson Contreras' homecoming at Wrigley Field in May 2023 was as awkward as one could imagine. After surviving trade rumors in his final year with the Chicago Cubs and leaving as a free agent, Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal with the arch rival St. Louis Cardinals, who seemed to have buyer's remorse from the get-go. Instead of being the everyday catcher, Contreras was told five weeks into his first season with the Cardinals that he'd get a timeout from catching and would play left field and be a designated hitter. The decision seemed to verify the feelings — by Cubs president Jed Hoyer or then-manager David Ross, or both — that Contreras wasn't worth re-signing long-term as a catcher. 'I honestly feel like we could've potentially ended up in a worse situation long term than what we're experiencing today,' manager Oli Marmol said that day. 'This is just noise. This goes away.' Contreras received a warm ovation in his return to Wrigley, like almost every member of the 2016 World Series champions whenever they come back to Chicago. Old memories die hard. He eventually earned his old position back, but in the third year of his deal, he is the first baseman on a Cardinals team that was supposed to be in 'reset' mode until an unexpected first half saw them competing with the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. The 'noise' about Contreras turned out to be real. And last week, in a heated moment that Cubs fans saw plenty of when he wore blue pinstripes, Contreras made a scene in St. Louis after being hit by a pitch from closer Daniel Palencia. It was the ninth inning of a close game, and Palencia obviously had no reason to throw at a hitter. But Contreras began squawking at the young Cubs pitcher as he took his base, telling him to 'throw strikes.' After Palencia got out of a jam to post the save with a strikeout, he thumped his chest, turned and looked squarely at Contreras, seemingly taunting the former Cub hero. Nothing came from the incident besides a bit of shouting and posturing, and Contreras later admitted he reacted in the wrong manner and did not want to fight the Cubs. But for Cubs fans who grew accustomed to watching 'Willson be Willson,' it was ironic to see 'Willson being Willson' against his old team. Contreras will return Friday as the Cubs take on the Cardinals for an important three-game series at Wrigley Field, and whether he gets the 2016 hero treatment remains to be seen. After being hit in the left hand by a pitch Tuesday by Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Contreras was not in the lineup Wednesday and his status for the weekend is unknown. If Contreras does stroll to the plate, will Cubs fans let bygones be bygones? Did the contributions he made on several winning Cubs teams overshadow a mini-meltdown he later apologized for? Or will he be booed like past Cardinals villains, including Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds? The return of the ex-2016 Cubs has been an annual rite at Wrigley, from Dexter Fowler's first game back in 2017 with the Cardinals to Anthony Rizzo's long-awaited return last September with the New York Yankees. In between there was Kris Bryant, Jon Lester, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Báez and several others. Kyle Hendricks is the only star from that championship team who hasn't had his homecoming yet. He was the last man standing before leaving as a free agent in November and signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Hendricks won't be back at Wrigley this year unless he's traded to a team that's scheduled to play there in the final two months. The Cubs play the Angels in Anaheim at the end of August, so Hendricks' homecoming will probably have to wait until 2026. I've been an eyewitness to most of the 2016 players' returns. The only one I can recall who was treated poorly was catcher Miguel Montero, who came back with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017. Montero had been released by the Cubs that summer after being blamed for a rash of stolen bases in a game by the Washington Nationals and then directing that blame toward pitcher Jake Arrieta for not holding on base runners. Arrieta admitted it was his fault, but no matter. When he came back with the Blue Jays later that summer, Montero received a mixed reaction — but louder booing than cheers. Montero shrugged it off when I asked about the reaction and the perception that he was a bad teammate for blaming Arrieta that day in Washington. 'If I was a really bad teammate, no one would say hi to me, no one would really care for me,' he said. 'And they all were, like, happy to see me, and I was happy to see them. (The booing) was on and off. I really don't care. They cheered a lot of big hits when I was here, and whether they hate me or love me, they're going to remember me forever.' That was true of all the 2016 Cubs, who nine years later remain the baseball version of the 1985 Bears — a group that never repeated their glory season but remains in the hearts of Chicago fans. When I saw Montero recently at Rate Field where he was working with the Arizona Diamondbacks, I asked him if the old cliche was true: When you win in Chicago, does it mean you never have to buy a drink again? 'It is (true),' Montero said with a laugh. 'And meals, too.' I could not independently verify Montero's claims, though one of his 2016 teammates told me that was just a media narrative and he had been charged for many drinks here. That player could afford it, of course, and said he didn't mind paying, but wanted to correct the record. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cubs' championship season, and the team will be feted at some point at Wrigley Field. It will be a special occasion for fans to look back on a special season where everything went right and the team finally ended a 108-year drought. Montero admitted he hadn't heard a thing about it, but expected to be invited to any celebration. It might be a little awkward. Joe Maddon was let go in 2019 despite being the only Cubs manager to win a title since 1908. His replacement, Ross, the former catcher-turned-manager, was shockingly fired by Hoyer after the 2023 season ended with a September collapse and has only returned for a concert. Whether Hoyer will still be the Cubs president has not yet been determined, though most expect him to be back. Some players will still be active, including Báez, Schwarber, Hendricks and Contreras, and likely wouldn't be available to be feted. Life goes on, and not every ending can be a happy one. But that doesn't take away from the memories. Whether Contreras gets a nice reception from Cubs fans this weekend, or any subsequent trip to Wrigley Field, probably doesn't matter much in the long run. They're still going to remember him forever.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
The question again hanging over the Cubs at the trade deadline: If not now, when?
CHICAGO — In closing a controversial deal that aimed to end the Chicago Cubs' 108-year World Series drought, Theo Epstein memorably declared: 'If not now, when?' Back in the summer of 2016, the Cubs had built a star-studded lineup and a dominant rotation that kept them on pace to win 100-plus games. Feeling the weight of the franchise's disappointing history, and sensing an enormous opportunity at the trade deadline, Epstein gave up future All-Star Gleyber Torres to get Aroldis Chapman, who had begun that season with the New York Yankees serving a suspension under Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy. Advertisement Without Chapman that October and November, the Cubs believe they would not have advanced through three postseason rounds and won Game 7. That history is relevant because Chapman is still an exceptionally talented closer, now with the Boston Red Sox, one of several underperforming teams that could swing the July 31 trade deadline by deciding to sell. And it's instructive when the Cubs are in a buying mood, feeling like they are having one of those magical years. Though 1908 no longer hangs over their players and management team, the Cubs will be operating with a sense of urgency and from a position of strength. As a first-place team on the Fourth of July, the Cubs are in the market for a late-game reliever, a solid starting pitcher and a right-handed hitter. The larger context also matters. The big-game energy has returned to Wrigleyville, enhancing ownership's portfolio of investments around the neighborhood. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer entered this season in the final year of his contract, putting pressure on the entire front office. At the age of 23, Pete Crow-Armstrong is blossoming into a superstar. In a few months, All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker will likely explore his options as a free agent. Seven strong from Cade 😤 — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 4, 2025 The Cubs are 52-35 after sweeping the Cleveland Guardians out of Wrigley Field with Thursday night's 1-0 victory, which featured seven stout innings from rookie pitcher Cade Horton, yet another bullpen group effort and Matt Shaw's sacrifice fly off Emmanuel Clase in the 10th inning. A crowd of 38,450 watched the Cubs increase their lead to four games in the National League Central. Again, the question will be asked: If not now, when? 'Let's wait (to) make that determination,' said Hoyer, who previously worked as Epstein's longtime general manager in Chicago. Experience has taught Hoyer that so much will happen in the final month before the trade deadline, and he noted that the Chapman transaction wasn't finalized until July 25 that year. Advertisement 'When you think about that deal, it wasn't about playoff odds,' Hoyer said. 'That was about World Series probabilities. You add a dominant closer like that because there was a gap for us. We talked over and over throughout August and September about not using him for more than three-out saves because we wanted to be able to unleash his talent in the postseason to get to the World Series.' The Cubs were fortunate in that the Yankees, a perennial contender, sold at the trade deadline for the first time in a generation. That will be part of the scoreboard-watching this July, seeing what the Arizona Diamondbacks decide to do at the last minute, whether third baseman Eugenio Suárez and pitchers Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen become available. The Kansas City Royals are among the clubs also in a holding pattern, with Seth Lugo profiling as the type of pitcher who would be a good fit in Chicago. MLB's gambling-related investigation into Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz, who was scratched from Thursday's start at Wrigley Field, could ultimately force the Guardians to unload major-league talent and reposition for the future. Either way, the playoff format still accentuates the value of high-leverage relievers, which means the Cubs can fully believe in Daniel Palencia right now and still look to acquire another closer this summer. Héctor Rondón had been an excellent closer in 2015 (1.67 ERA, 30 saves) and the first half of 2016 (1.72 ERA, 14 saves), but Chapman pitched at a higher level, with an air of intimidation. Then and now, adding Chapman would potentially keep him away from a team the Cubs would have to beat in October. While a 100 mph fastball is almost normal now, Chapman's velocity was a real outlier in 2016, when the Cubs had five healthy starting pitchers who routinely pitched deep into games. The current formula is more complicated. Advertisement 'There's a difference between playoff odds and World Series odds,' Hoyer said. 'Just getting in is not necessarily the ticket. High-leverage relievers do have a significant impact on your World Series odds. We obviously have those discussions all the time, but I don't think we're there yet in those discussions. We'll give that some time. There are different ways to think about what you're trying to accomplish.' That is the internal mandate: Get creative. Perhaps that means a three-team deal, taking on contracts that go beyond 2025, targeting younger players or some combination of moves. Trade talks will likely accelerate after the All-Star break, given the timing of the MLB Draft (July 13-14) that occupies all 30 front offices. The Cubs entered Thursday with a 97.1 percent chance to qualify for the playoffs, according to Baseball Reference, and a 16.1 percent chance to win the World Series. FanGraphs presented a slightly less optimistic, though still rosy, picture, setting Chicago's playoff odds at 90.3 percent, with a 5.7 percent probability of winning the World Series. 'Not to be Belichick about it,' said Hoyer, who graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, the same school that once produced the famously grumpy football coach. 'But you have to take it one series at a time.' (Photo by Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
How to watch Astros at Dodgers, starring Shohei Ohtani on the mound and a chorus of boos
The Houston Astros visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in Chavez Ravine. For those about to watch or attend this weekend's series, familiarize yourselves with this sound: Fox is also available for free over the air. This particular rivalry became a pressure point for the entire sport after Houston was snared in the sign-stealing scandal of the 2017 World Series. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich published an essential report on all the improprieties. The Astros organization was eventually punished with fines, manager suspensions and docked draft picks … but every single pro sports enterprise would gleefully take that on the chin for a championship ring. Advertisement For Dodgers fans, it was searing enough to lose a World Series title under such murky circumstances. The frustrations ballooned when they were unable to vent it out at the ballpark until years later. The scandal broke after the 2019 season. The 2020 season was played in a bubble with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and 2021 had marked attendance limits. Houston hosted the interleague meeting in 2022, and it wasn't until the following year when Dodgers fans could, in their home stadium, display the fury of a thousand dented trash cans. Animosities and theatrics aside, this rivalry defines so much of MLB history across the last 10 seasons. Since 2016, the Dodgers and Astros have combined for four World Series triumphs, four more pennants and nine 100-win campaigns. Surprise surprise, they both hit this weekend with sizable division leads and deep playoff aspirations. Houston is in a tough spot from its recent injuries, though. Slugger Yordan Álvarez remains out with a right hand fracture. Budding star shortstop Jeremy Peña hurt his ribs last weekend and is now on the IL. Brendan Rodgers and Chas McCormick have also missed time. Los Angeles is on a torrid stretch dating back to June 14, with 15 wins in their last 18 tries. The team has a fresh major injury of its own, though. Mainstay third baseman Max Muncy hobbled off the field Wednesday after a collision tag with White Sox baserunner Michael A. Taylor. He is now expected to be out six weeks. Injuries suck, but there are enough main attractions to make this series a banger. Jose Altuve may be one of the last contemporaries with a shot at 3,000 hits. Clayton Kershaw just joined the 3,000 strikeout club. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Will Smith are still among the best at their positions. And Saturday's primetime slot on Fox gives us an incredible pitching matchup. The flame-throwing lefty Framber Valdez comes in with a 9–4 record and 2.72 ERA. He's matched by the one-of-a-kind Shohei Ohtani, who will be on the mound for the fourth time this season — and on his birthday. May we never stop marveling at the NL home run leader moonlighting with a triple-digit fastball. Advertisement All-time fusion staff (min. 1 start with each franchise): Ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
