Kershaw Reaches 3,000 Strikeouts in a Game Marked by Muncy’s Injury
Los Angeles, California – In a meeting full of mixed emotions, Clayton Kershaw reached the impressive figure of 3,000 strikeouts in his career. However, the celebration was marred by a worrying moment in which the Dodgers’ third baseman, Max Muncy, suffered a left knee injury and had to be removed from the field. The incident occurred in the sixth inning, with one out, when Muncy attempted to catch a throw from catcher Will Smith in an attempt to steal third base by White Sox center fielder Michael A. Taylor. Taylor’s helmet directly impacted Muncy’s left leg during a headfirst slide. Muncy immediately fell to the ground, clutching his left knee, and then left the field with the help of head athletic trainer Thomas Albert. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed initial optimism after the 5-4 victory, indicating that the hope is that Muncy only suffered a sprain. However, further tests will be performed, including an MRI on Thursday, to determine the severity of the injury. Muncy, 34, got off to a slow start this season, but has shown outstanding performance since the beginning of May, with a batting average of .329, eight home runs and 27 RBIs. Four years ago, Muncy suffered a similar injury when colliding with a runner while playing first base, resulting in a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow on October 3, 2021. This prevented him from participating in the playoffs. The Dodgers hope this injury isn’t too serious.“We are all thinking about Munce right now,” Kershaw said, who achieved his 3,000th strikeout immediately after Muncy’s injury. “He’s a very important part of our team, he made a great play there. I really don’t know why [Taylor] stole there; it just seemed unnecessary. I feel bad about what happened. We’re all holding our breath for Munce to be okay. Obviously, he is a very important part of our team, and especially in the last two months he has been incredible.”
Clayton Kershaw
