Clayton Kershaw’s Final Home Start: Top Moments From A Memorable Night

It proved to be an emotional night at Dodger Stadium. 

Clayton Kershaw made his final regular season home start on Friday after announcing he will retire at season’s end. Some of the top moments from a memorable evening at Chavez Ravine, which culminated with a 6-3 win over the San Francisco Giants. 

Dodgers clinch a playoff berth

The Dodgers beat the Giants to ensure a postseason spot. All eyes now turn to securing the NL West crown and beyond.

Ohtani, Betts homer to give Dodgers the lead 

From one MVP to another. With Kershaw done for the night, Shohei Ohtani soaked up some of the spotlight with this home run in the bottom of the fifth to give the Dodgers the lead. Mookie Betts, yet another MVP, also homered in the frame. 

Kershaw exits after striking out Devers

Kershaw’s night came to an end after 4.1 innings. For his final act, he struck out San Francisco Giants’ slugger Rafael Devers. 

Kershaw’s final line on Friday was — four hits, four walks, six strikeouts and two earned runs over 4.1 innings. He’s not eligible to record a win. 

Kershaw gets out of 4th inning jam

Kershaw worked his way out of a fourth-inning jam to keep the score at 2-1. After allowing Patrick Bailey to hit a single to lead off the frame, he got Drew Gilbert and Heliot Ramos to hit pop-ups. He then got the best of Willy Adames, outlasting him and striking him out after a nine-pitch at-bat.  

Matthew Stafford showing love

Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford is in attendance, among other sports celebrities, to support his long-time friend, Kershaw. 

“To be able to see him do it now, for so many years in LA is incredible,” Stafford said when interviewed on the broadcast. “I didn’t want to miss this.”

Stafford and the Rams travel to Philadelphia this weekend to face the Eagles on Sunday, but the plane wasn’t going to leave before Stafford could get over to Dodgers Stadium and support his buddy. Kershaw and Stafford both grew up in Highland Park, Texas, and were, in fact, Little League teammates. 

Pregame festivities

Kershaw emerged from the dugout for his walk to the bullpen to a standing ovation from the Dodgers’ crowd. The cheers continued as Kershaw took the mound and tipped his cap to the stands.

The 37-year-old pitcher will be surrounded by his teammates, his wife and four children and fans who’ve watched him work his way through the Dodgers’ farm system to reach the majors at age 20 and go on to win three Cy Young Awards as well as two World Series championships.

“Everybody who is just a fan is going to wrap their arms around Clayton Kershaw,” teammate Freddie Freeman said. ‘He deserves everything he’s going to get from the fans. It’s Clayton Kershaw’s night and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

There’s business to tend to as well.

The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is six. Their opponent, the San Francisco Giants, trail the New York Mets by three games in the National League wild-card race.

“This game matters for both teams. Everybody’s still in it,” Kershaw said. “I got a job to do, so I’m going to go out and do my job. Thankfully, I’ll have that to distract me.”

Kershaw, an 11-time All-Star, ranks first in Dodgers history in strikeouts (3,039) and WAR among pitchers (77.6), second in wins (222) and WHIP (1.02), fourth in innings pitched (2,844.2) and sixth in ERA (2.54).

Furthermore, Kershaw, who has made 32 career postseason starts, won the 2014 NL MVP Award, making him the only pitcher since 1968 to win the prestigious NL honor; Bob Gibson won the 1968 NL MVP Award with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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