Monday night at Dodger Stadium was a big day for many reasons. It was the first time the 2020 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers would play against the 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves. This is the same team that beat the Boys in Blue in the NLCS last year to move on to the Championship and eventually win the Fall Classic.
It was also ‘Kershaw Day,’ as fans lovingly call any day that future Hall of Famer and Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw pitches.
Add to that, longtime Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman now plays for the Dodgers, and to flip the script, longtime Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is now the Braves closer.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith was also honored with his first-ever Bobblehead Night on Monday, leaving a lot of emotion and excitement to start the week at ‘The Ravine.’
As fans have witnessed several times this season, Los Angeles had yet another big inning in which they scored multiple runs against opponents; five in the fourth inning on Monday night, to be exact. However, one of the game’s highlights was Kershaw earning his 100th career win at Dodger Stadium.
When the dust finally settled, the Dodgers beat the Braves 7-4, with Kershaw as the winning pitcher. He went an impressive five innings in front of a stadium crowd of 52,052. He gave up four runs and no walks while striking out seven. Thanks to the team’s outstanding offense, he secured the win after coming out of the game in the sixth inning to a standing ovation from the crowd.
When asked about Kershaw’s career and legacy during his postgame interview, Roberts had nothing but wonderful things to say about his beloved ace.
“Just to be along for the ride. Clayton is one of the best pitchers of our generation,” Roberts told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson after the game. “There’s not an outing that goes by that I don’t appreciate what he has done, what he continues to do. Just happy for him. A guy that does things the right way on the field, off the field, you just always pull for guys for that. Just for me to be a small part of it is pretty gratifying.”
Kershaw will always be his own worst critic, but it cannot be understated what an extraordinary pitcher he is. And for those in attendance Monday night, they witnessed yet another piece of Dodgers history being made.
Let’s go Dodgers!
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Just to correct the record;
Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher of this generation.