From the time Clayton Kershaw showed up in the Dodgers' spring-training camp as a 19-year-old, there were signals he was destined for stardom that went beyond his electric fastball and knee-buckling curveball.
There was something inside that distinguished him from the other players.
That something was on display for a national television audience Sunday night, when Kershaw took the ball and his injured right hip to the mound at Great American Ball Park.
Kershaw's performance in a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds was far from his most dominant, but was among his most courageous.
Pitching on 12 days' rest, he was uncharacteristically wild, walking a season-high five batters. He allowed 11 Reds to reach base. But in the five tumultuous innings he pitched, only one run scored.
MLB Headlines
Clayton Kershaw guts it out and Dodgers pull one out against Reds
Los Angeles Times | Sep 24