PITTSBURGH — Clayton Kershaw‘s streak of 37 consecutive scoreless innings ended one batter into Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pirates leadoff hitter Gregory Polanco hit a solo home run to left-center field on Kershaw’s first pitch of the game, ending a streak that began July 3. Kershaw had made four starts since then without allowing a run, pitching eight or nine innings in each game.
Remarkably, the streak wasn’t the longest of Kershaw’s career or even the longest by a Dodgers pitcher this season. Kershaw threw 41 consecutive scoreless innings in 2014. Zack Greinke‘s streak of 45 ⅔ innings without allowing a run ended last month.
Polanco’s home run was his sixth this season. It only appeared to come out of nowhere:
The last homer off was by Matt Szczur of the Cubs, in the seventh inning June 22 — 176 batters in between.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 7, 2015