Dodgers are almost perfect in the second week of the season

The start of the Dodgers season has been almost perfect.

After dropping two of three games to the surprising Colorado Rockies, the Dodgers have won six games in a row and outscored their opponents, 40-9.

The Dodgers shut down the visiting Cincinnati Reds, 9-1, on Sunday and Andrew Heaney is quickly becoming a Dodger folk hero, striking out 11 batters in six innings in his second quality start of the season.

The Dodgers are coming up with clutch hits.

The Dodger starters are looking more impressive with each outing.

The Dodger relievers are shutting down opposing bats late in games.

Even Cody Beillinger looks like he is finding his pre-pandemic form.

The Dodgers are finding a rhythm early.

Clayton Kershaw came close to finding a perfect rhythm against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

He was perfect for seven innings against the Twins. He struck out 13 Twins batters. He was pulled and denied a chance to throw the first perfect game in the majors since 2012, the first perfect game for the Dodgers since 1965. Kershaw had a chance to make history. Instead, he won a meaningless game in April, perhaps saving himself for a deep playoff run and another World Series championship.

It’s not that Kershaw has anything more to prove. His legacy as a Dodger great and baseball legend are set. He is a three-time Cy Young Award winner, a National League MVP, and eight-time All Star and a World Series champion.

But adding a perfect game would have put him on another level.

Sandy Koufax pitched his only perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 9, 1965. It was the fourth no-hitter of his career. It might have been the most perfect game ever played.

The Dodgers won the game, 1-0. In the fifth inning, Lou Johnson scored the only run of the game when he walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice, stole third base and scored when the throw sailed over the head of third baseman Ron Santo and into left field.

Johnson also had the only hit of the game, a bloop single in the seventh inning. 

Cubs starter Bob Hendley pitched a one-hitter and lost. Both pitchers had no-hitters in the seventh inning. 

Koufax struck out 14 – and struck out the final six Cubs batters in the game – still the most strikeouts in a perfect game, and went on to lead the Dodgers to a World Series title.

Kershaw had 13 strikeouts in his seven perfect innings. He had two more innings to add to his strikeout total. 

Who knows if Kershaw will have another chance at a perfect game. There have only been 23 in the history of Major League Baseball. It’s unlikely the opportunity will present itself again for Kershaw.

When October rolls around, Kershaw’s near-perfect outing will be a distant memory.

If the Dodgers win another World Series with a healthy Kershaw in the rotation, it will be worth it.

But if not, what a waste of an opportunity.

Next up for the Dodgers (7-2) are the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium, then the Dodgers travel to San Diego for a three-game weekend series against the Padres.