Clayton Kershaw (ClaytonKersh22) LOVES the MLB AllStarGame. On Tuesday, he finally got to start one. stephapstein on Kershaw’s special moment at Dodger Stadium
Fortunately, it did not come to that. As Ohtani dug into the batter’s box, he waited for Kershaw to look his way, tipped his cap in what he later called a sign of “respect to the pitcher” and immediately lined a single to center field. Three pitches later, Kershaw picked him off. Both pitcher and runner cackled as Ohtani cleared the field. Kershaw caught Judge looking, walked Devers and induced a grounder from The Kershaw family at the MLB Red Carpet Show on Tuesday.
“I actually had a lot of fun pitching, which usually I don't have a lot of fun until we win,” he said afterward. He added, “It's not that I was unappreciative in my younger days. I just felt like I had to keep my nose down and keep going. I think that's how I felt like I needed to do it to be successful. There's still a lot of that in me. You just have to keep going. Can't take it all in because it could be over at any minute.
He spoke shortly after he exited the game, as the second inning played out without him, and he seemed eager to return to the dugout. But as he stood to leave, a 10-year-old from Denver named Blake Grice approached the podium.