You couldn’t have scripted it any better.

With one out and the bases empty in the top of the first inning of Thursday night’s Spring Training game between the Dodgers and Texas Rangers at Camelback Ranch, 34-year-old Dodgers future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw struck out 28-year-old Rangers future Hall of Fame shortstop Corey Seager on an absolutely filthy slider.

Kershaw -1 Seager – 0

Unfortunately, the very next batter, Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, put Kershaw’s 2-2 fastball into the Dodgers bullpen to give Texas an early 1-0 lead.

But with one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the third inning, Seager absolutely crushed Kershaw’s first-pitch fastball, sending it over the wall in (very) deep center field.

Kershaw -1 Seager – 1

Having reached his pre-arranged 75-pitch mark with one out in the top of the fourth inning, Kershaw’s night was done without facing Seager for what would have been the Kershaw/Seager tiebreaker.

But the pair weren’t quite finished with each other just yet.

As she often does, SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson caught up with Kershaw as he was heading back to the Dodgers clubhouse near third base for a quick one-on-one interview. Unfortunately (well, actually very fortunately), they were within earshot of Seager as he was warming up for the bottom of the inning.

Needless to say, the interview did not go well for Watson – which was great for television viewers:

I don’t care who you are or that this was nothing more than a so-called ‘meaningless Spring Training game,’ this was a precious – and priceless – moment for Kershaw, Seager, and for Dodgers fans around the globe.

Play Ball!

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