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Top 5 Performances By Clayton Kershaw In 2014

Was Clayton Kershaw's performance of 2014 enough to win MVP? Should be! Kershaw was the league's first 20-game winner and had a no-hit game that should have been perfect. After helping the Dodgers clinch their second straight division title, Kershaw will end the regular season with a record of 21-3. To top it off, Kershaw had a scoreless streak of 41 innings in his MVP-like season. If Kershaw does indeed win the NL MVP, it will be the first time for a Dodger in 46 years, as Hall of Famer Bob Gibson won it in 1968.

1. June 18 against Colorado Rockies

Kershaw's performance against the Colorado Rockies was one of the most dominant outings for a Dodgers pitcher ever. In his first-ever no-hitter, Kershaw had 15 strikeouts (career high), no walks in 107 pitches. The best game of his career should have been a perfect game. However, Hanley Ramirez committed a throwing error off a Corey Dickerson grounder in the top of the seventh to break the perfect bid.

2. Sept. 24 against San Francisco Giants


Before coming to this game, some critics questioned Kershaw's performance when it matters most. Although it wasn't a playoff game, Kershaw, who has a 4.23 career playoff ERA, had a dominant performance to help the Dodgers clinch the NL West for the second consecutive year. At the end of his eighth inning, his final inning, fans were roaring "M-V-P!" He had 11 strikeouts, no walks in 117 pitches. Not only was his arm the story, he also had his first career triple and a dazzling defensive behind-the-back snag to throw out Tim Hudson in the third inning.

3. June 29 against St. Louis Cardinals

Just before the All-Star break, Kerhsaw struck out 13 in seven scoreless innings to lead LA past the Cardinals 6-0 on June 29. Kershaw went 6-0 with a remarkable 0.82 ERA in the month of June and was the first Dodger to win six games in a month since Hideo Nomo in 1995.

4. July 4 at Colorado Rockies

After an excellent month, Kershaw started his first game in July with a two-hit shutout in eight innings of work against the Rockies. Although Coors field is a hitter's park, Kershaw extended his scoreless-hitting streak to 36, the third-longest for a Dodger.

5. Aug. 16 against Milwaukee Brewers

In his fifth-best start of 2014 in CBSLA's Top 5, Kershaw pitched a complete game, giving up three hits in a rare loss to the Brewers. In his nine inning pitches, he threw 97 pitches. That's 10.7 pitches per inning!

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