KERSHAW JOINS THE PARTY

BARB season total of no-nos EQUALS previous total in BARB history, not even halfway through the 2013 season.

As has been discussed at length recently, BARB had three total no-hitters in its history (one each in 2010, 2011, and 2012) entering the 2013 campaign.

Now, the current season has three of its own.

On May 11, David Price got the party started with a biggie: the first perfect game in league annals, against the Casselton Horned Toads. Just a week later, Kris Medlen, Price’s Yuma teammate, blanked the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels with just one runner allowed (on a late error).

On June 2, Riverside played host to the squad with the best record in the league, the Worcester Eliminators, who have a multiple-game lead in their division and have scored the most runs in BARB. For something special to happen, an ace would have to be on the hill.

Enter Clayton Kershaw.

The strappin’ southpaw entered the contest 7-2 with a 2.95 ERA (and a save, to boot, due to the Rum Runners’ recent pitching shortage). He had walked approximately one batter every three innings, and at the beginning of the game it appeared wildness would be an issue: with one out in the top of the first, Worcester second baseman Robinson Cano drew a four-pitch free pass.

But that was it. Literally. The next hitter, Billy Butler, grounded sharply to Riverside second baseman Howie Kendrick, who in turn started a 4-6-3, inning-ending double play. From that point on, no Eliminator reached base safely.

While Kershaw was painting his masterpiece, his offense was smashing the ball against Lance Lynn.

Torii Hunter and David Freese each drove in runs early on before homering in the late innings. Hunter had three of the Rum Runners’ eight RBI, while Freese plated four Runners.

As the game went on, many thought that, at some point, Worcester’s bats would break out and put up a crooked number. Kershaw, though, prevented that possibility. With the last out in the ninth inning, he got pinch-hitter Michael Saunders to pop out to shortstop. Along the way, the ace struck out nine and threw 122 total pitches.