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Clayton Kershaw extends scoreless streak to 37 innings with 8 shutout frames

Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw extended his scoreless innings streak to 37 frames with a dominant performance Saturday versus the Los Angeles Angels.

The reigning National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner scattered two hits across eight shutout innings while striking out seven, then handed the ball over to closer Kenley Jansen with a 3-0 lead.

"I felt all right; I don't think I was quite as sharp as usual," Kershaw, who pitched on eight days rest due to a sore right hip, said postgame. "The Angels did a good job laying off pitches down in the zone. I was fortunate to get to eight (innings) today. I think my fastball command got better as the game went on."

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Kershaw squared off against Mike Trout three times in a rare matchup between the reigning MVPs of both leagues, retiring the Angels slugger all three times, including via strikeout in the first inning.

Related: Trout frozen by Kershaw's curve, robbed by Puig in Angels' loss to Dodgers

Here's how Kershaw has fared over his last five outings:

Date Opponent IP H ER K
Aug. 1 Angels 8 2 0 7
July 23 Mets 9 3 0 11
July 18 Nationals 8 3 0 14
July 8 Phillies 9 8 0 13
July 3 Mets 7 5 1 7

Kershaw is the first pitcher with four consecutive starts of at least eight scoreless innings since Orel Hershiser in 1988 - the same year Hershiser recorded his MLB-record 59-inning scoreless streak.

Kershaw improved his record to 9-6 and increased his league-leading strikeout total to 192 in the Dodgers' 3-1 victory. He's now within striking distance of teammate Zack Greinke's scoreless run of 45 2/3 innings, which ended last week.

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