LOOK: Reggie Jackson hammers Dodgers over controversial in-game decision with Clayton Kershaw
Major League Baseball is back in full force after a lengthy lockout, and that means the second-guessing is back, as well. It didn’t take long for Twitter to light up about a controversial managerial decision, either.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw had a perfect game through seven innings and 80 pitches against the Minnesota Twins. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to pull Kershaw from the game, and the bid for a perfect game ended on the first batter Alex Vesia faced in the top of the eighth inning.
Baseball Twitter reacted swiftly, criticizing Roberts for pulling Kershaw even though he had a chance to do something only 23 players have ever done. New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and California Angels great Reggie Jackson was among the critics, voicing his displeasure in tweet shortly after Kershaw came out.
“Clayton Kershaw Perfect game 80 pitches, take him OUT!!!!!” Jackson tweeted. “WHAT THE! what’s the game coming to? 1 of the era’s best, and you take him out with a perfect game in the 7th, 7-0 Dodgers winning. Take him OUT! THIS IS BASEBALL PLEASE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER PLAYED GET OUT OF ITS WAY.”
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The Dodgers ended up winning the game 7-0 and Gary Sánchez’s single in the top of the eight was the Twins’ only hit of the game. Afterward, Kershaw didn’t seem fazed by Roberts’ move to pull him when he was six outs away from history.
“At the end of the day, those are individual things,” Kershaw said, via Sports Illustrated’s Madison Williams. “Those are selfish goals. We’re trying to win, that’s really all we’re here for. As much as I would have wanted to do it, I’ve thrown 75 pitches in a sim game. I hadn’t gone six innings, let alone seven. Sure, I would’ve loved to do it, but maybe we get another chance, who knows.”