Future Hall-of-Famer Clayton Kershaw was two innings away from pitching a potential perfect game. And that opportunity was whisked away from him.
After being perfect through seven innings in today’s game against the Minnesota Twins, meaning that he had not given up any hits, walks, or allowed any opposing players to reach base, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the signal to remove Kershaw.
The reason? He was on a pitch limit. Kershaw had already thrown 80 pitches, and, not wanting to take any chances on a potential injury, Roberts removed him. Alex Vesia came in to pitch the eighth inning, giving up a hit to Gary Sánchez, officially ending the combined perfect game. The Dodgers did go on to win the game 7-0, however.
If it's a no-hitter, whatever. Yank him. Clayton Kershaw has thrown one.
But there have been more than 220,000 games in MLB history. There have been 23 perfect games.
Everything — especially a pitch count of 80 — is lining up to at least let Kershaw try. You cannot pull him.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 13, 2022
Out of over 218,000 MLB games ever played, only 23 of those were perfect games, making it one of the rarest feats in all of sports. Kershaw had the chance to potentially pitch only the 24th perfect game in the history of the sport, but to no avail.
“Those are individual things,” Kershaw said of the perfect game opportunity following the game. “Those are selfish goals. We’re trying to win. That’s really all we’re here for. As much as I would’ve wanted to do it, I’ve thrown 75 pitches in a sim game on six innings, let alone seven. Sure, I would’ve loved to have [done] it, but maybe we get another chance, who knows? I would have loved to have stayed, but bigger things, man. Bigger things.”
This is an absolute dork move. DORKS! https://t.co/cQSUFf1616
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) April 13, 2022
“Later in the season when he’s a little more built up, I think he goes out there,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “But I think that’s the right call, taking him out there. It was the right move for sure. I think he was getting a little tired.”
Kershaw is coming off a 2021 season in which he had an arm injury, so it makes sense as to why he was pulled from the game, but it also makes sense as to why the fans alike are a bit irked by this. Regardless, it was a stellar performance and the future Hall-of-Famer will be back on the mound next week.
What do you think of Dave Roberts’ decision to pull Kershaw during a perfect game bid? Let us know, by either leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
