Kershaw BM432905

The Dodgers hosted the Royals in the last game of a three-game series on July 9, 2017. In this game, Clayton Kershaw was efficient, pitching a complete game, striking out 13 Royals, and only throwing 99 pitches. This was the first time in Major League history that a player pitched a complete game, with as many strikeouts, and under 100 pitches. Kansas City leadoff batter Whit Merrifield was a favorite target, striking out three times in this game. In the top of the eighth inning, Merrifield came up to bat and saw this ball for the third and fourth pitches of the At bat. This baseball was thrown for a 92.8 MPH called strike, and an 89.7 MPH ball. This ball was taken out of play before the fifth pitch of the at-bat, a swinging strike three for the 12th strikeout of the game. This win was the 14th for the season for Kershaw and was his 25th career complete game. This was also the last game before the All-Star Break. Heading into the break, the Dodgers held a 7.5 game lead in their division with a record of 61-29, which was also good enough for the best record in all of baseball.