Flashback Friday: Clayton Kershaw Makes MLB Debut Vs. Cardinals
On May 25, 2008, the Los Angeles Dodgers witnessed the start of what would later become their future, as Clayton Kershaw made his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander began his career with the number 54, different from the 22 that many are accustomed to seeing now.
In his first inning as a professional, Kershaw faced off against Albert Pujols and Pujols hit an RBI double to deep center field. The Dodgers responded with two runs coming off of a Luis Maza solo home run and an RBI double from Russell Martin. Kershaw gave up his only other earned run on a bases loaded fielders’ choice in the sixth inning. That would be all for Kershaw as his day ended with five hits and two earned runs in six innings of work. He tacked on seven strikeouts and allowed one walk.
Juan Pierre scored in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Russell Martin delivered his second RBI of the game to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. That put Kershaw in line to get the win, but Corey Wade allowed a run in the seventh inning to tie the game at three. The game went into extra innings, where the Dodgers would win via an Andre Ethier walk-off single in the 10th inning.
Kershaw received a no-decision in the victory for the Dodgers, but did provide the Dodgers a bright glimpse of what the future would hold.
