It was actually a difficult decision – Do I skip Sunday’s game at Dodger Stadium and drive the extra hour to Rancho Cucamonga to watch Hanley Ramirez make his second and likely final rehab assignment with the Quakes and run the risk of missing Clayton Kershaw’s first ever perfect game or no-hitter; or do I go to the Dodger game and possibly witness Clayton Kershaw’s first ever perfect game or no-hitter.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t such a difficult decision after all.

The mere thought of Clayton Kershaw throwing a perfect game or no-hitter at Dodger Stadium without me there is absolutely terrifying to me. (Photo credit – Jill Weisleder)

There would be no perfect game or no-hitter for Kershaw on this day, but there would be yet another Koufax-like performance from the 25-year-old Dodger left-hander.

Like most Dodger fans, I was a bit uncomfortable and did a little squirming in my seat in the top of the first inning when Kershaw allowed two singles and his pitch count soared to 13 pitches before an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. But when Carl Crawford drove the very first pitch that Brewers ace Kyle Loshe threw over the center field wall, I smiled and said to myself “That ought to do it.”

Crawford’s home run giving Kershaw a 1-0 lead brought back fond memories of my childhood and of my father. I vividly recall my father taking me to a Dodger game in the Left Field Pavilion (one of many) when I was nine or ten years old. Sandy Koufax was pitching for the Dodgers and was given a one run lead early in the game. As soon as that run scored, my father said “That ought to do it.”

“Do what? I asked him.

“Be enough for Koufax to win the game,” as if expecting that I should know the answer.

“Why, Dad? I persisted.

Rather than offer a sensible explanation, my dad simply said “You’ll see.”

Sure enough, the opposing team (I don’t recall who it was) ended up being shut out 1-0 in a complete game pitched by the future Hall of Famer. As the final out was recorded (a strikeout of course), I smiled in sudden realization and said to my father “Got it, Dad.”

I was blessed to have watched Sandy Koufax pitch several times as a youngster. I don’t mean to sound redundant, but Kershaw’s likeness to him is scary. (AP photo)

As we all know by now, Kershaw pitched an absolute gem on Sunday, allowing no runs on 4 hits with no walks and 12 strikeouts in his 8 innings of work (and was aided by a second home run by Crawford) for the eventual 2-0 win. Kershaw improved his record to 3-2 with 47 strikeouts – one behind the Pirates A.J. Burnett for the league lead. Kershaw also improved his ERA to 1.73 – third best in the National League.

Yep – that ought to do it.