LOS ANGELES -- One streak continued. Another was halted. The results stayed the same. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw continued his mastery of opposing lineups Saturday afternoon, shutting down the Los Angeles Angels for a 3-1 win at Dodger Stadium. His shutout streak reached 37 innings after he went eight innings, struck out seven and allowed two hits. He also became the first pitcher with four consecutive starts of at least eight scoreless innings since former Dodger Orel Hershiser in 1988.
In addition, Kershaw became the first pitcher since 1974 to produce two streaks of more than 35 innings in separate seasons, according to Stats LLC. He had a streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings last season.
How it happened: The Dodgers obviously did not need many runs with Kershaw on the mound, and it's a good thing because for a while even the threat of one was a difficult find. The Dodgers loaded the bases with a couple of walks wrapped around a Yasmani Grandal single in the second inning, but Kershaw grounded out to strand three. There were not many opportunities after that as Kershaw and Angels starter Andrew Heaney dominated through five frames -- each team had only two hits.
Kershaw continued jamming up the Angels beyond that point, but Heaney found trouble in the sixth when Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez led off with back-to-back singles to put themselves on the corners. Scott Van Slyke followed with a sacrifice fly to score Kendrick and give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, chasing Heaney from the game.
That run, as has been the case lately, was enough for Kershaw. The Dodgers did not stop there, though. Grandal smashed his 15th home run of the season to straightaway center field in the same inning, a two-run shot off reliever Fernando Salas, who replaced Heaney.
What it means: There is no legitimate need to worry about Kershaw's health. The team pushed him back a couple of days from his normal start day, which was supposed to be Wednesday, and then pushed him back another day to Saturday because of an irritated hip. That set off all kinds of alarms in Dodgertown, especially since the trade deadline did not turn up an ace to add to the rotation.
The panic can cease. Kershaw, who on Friday said he was fine, picked up where he left off with his scoreless innings streak and threw 114 pitches to further prove his health should not be a concern.
Another streak snapped: Kershaw went into this start as the only pitcher since 1900 to have three consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts without allowing a walk or a run. That streak snapped when he walked Taylor Featherston to lead off the third. Kershaw still faced the minimum that inning thanks to a double play.
MVP vs. MVP: When Mike Trout stepped into the box to face Kershaw in the first inning, it was the first time in major league history that reigning MVPs faced each other in the regular season. The at-bat ended after four pitches when Kershaw froze Trout with his world famous over-the-top curveball for the final out of the first inning.
Up next: Despite having airline trouble getting from Miami to Los Angeles after being traded from the Marlins, right-hander Mat Latos will make his Dodgers debut Sunday when the team goes for a sweep of the Angels. In his last seven starts, Latos has a 2.96 ERA and opposing lineups are hitting .198 against him in 45 2/3 innings. The Angels will counter with Cory Rasmus.