Reggie Jackson blasts Dodgers for pulling Clayton Kershaw amid perfect game bid

MLB Corridor of Famer Reggie Jackson blasted the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday after the staff determined to tug pitcher Clayton Kershaw amid an ideal sport bid.

Kershaw, in his season debut, was magnificent in opposition to the Minnesota Twins, as he struck out 13 batters and had an ideal sport by seven innings. However Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts made the choice to take away Kershaw after 80 pitches at Goal Area, which drew a response from Jackson on social media. 

“Clayton Kershaw Good sport 80 pitches, take him OUT !!!!! WHAT THE! what’s the sport coming to? 1 of the period’s greatest, and you are taking him out with an ideal sport within the seventh, 7-0 Dodgers profitable,” Jackson wrote on Twitter. “Take him OUT! THIS IS BASEBALL PLEASE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER PLAYED GET OUT OF ITS WAY.”

With simply six outs left to go within the sport, Roberts changed Kershaw with reliever Alex Vesia to start the eighth inning. Vesia gave up Minnesota’s first and solely hit of the competition, a single by Gary Sanchez. The hit eradicated any hope the staff — and Kershaw — had of constructing historical past.

Sandy Koufax is the one pitcher in Dodgers historical past to throw an ideal sport, which he did in opposition to the Chicago Cubs in 1965. With almost 30,000 individuals in attendance for the sport, Koufax caught out 14 batters, and he did not enable any participant to achieve base. The Dodgers received the sport 1-0.

On Wednesday, Kershaw struck out each Twins batter a minimum of as soon as apart from Gio Urshela, who grounded out and flied out his first two at-bats. 

After Kershaw was pulled from the sport, he was seen hugging teammates within the dugout. 

The choice to tug Kershaw additionally drew a response from some followers in Minnesota hoping to see the uncommon feat. After Vesia was seen jogging out from the bullpen, one fan sitting behind the plate exclaimed, “He had an ideal sport!” 

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Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Younger Award winner who started his fifteenth yr with the Dodgers, talked concerning the resolution after the sport, which the Dodgers received 7-0. Kershaw stated he would have liked to maintain pitching, however he known as the choice to tug him “the precise selection.”

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws in opposition to the Minnesota Twins in the course of the first inning Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Minneapolis.
(AP Photograph/Craig Lassig)

“As a lot as I’d have wished to do it, I’ve thrown 75 pitches in a sim sport,” Kershaw instructed reporters. “I’d have liked to remain, however greater issues.

“I knew moving into my pitch rely wasn’t going to be 100 not to mention 90. It is a onerous factor to do, popping out of a sport like that, however like I stated, we’re right here to win, and that is the precise selection.”

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw heads to the dugout after the ultimate out of the seventh inning of a sport in opposition to the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Minneapolis. 
(AP Photograph/Craig Lassig)

Kershaw additionally positioned blame on the MLB lockout, noting that he hadn’t picked up a ball for 3 months in the course of the offseason. He re-signed with the Dodgers this yr after lacking about two months in 2021 with irritation in his left forearm.

“Each resolution I make is for one of the best curiosity of the participant, their well being and the ballclub, as a result of there’s lots of people which might be cheering for the Dodgers, not solely only for at the moment and Clayton to throw a no-hitter, however for the Dodgers to win the World Sequence,” Roberts stated. “For us to try this, we’d like him wholesome.”

The Dodgers’ (3-2) subsequent sport is a house matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds Thursday night. 

Kershaw threw a no-hitter June 18, 2014, in opposition to the Colorado Rockies.

The Related Press contributed to this report