July 3rd, 2025

Congrats to Clayton Kershaw on reaching 3,000 strikeouts! It is an incredible milestone in a legendary career that’s destined for Cooperstown. No matter who you root for, it’s special to witness a player achieve something this historic.

He’s not just one of the greatest Dodgers ever, he’s one of the most dominant pitchers I’ve ever watched take the mound.

Full Video Recap Here of Dodgers vs White Sox

Watch Kershaw’s 3000th Strikeout

In addition to this historic milestone, we had 19 MLB Games played today which was the most since 1979 I believe. Thanks for reading First Pitch, let’s get into it!

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Kershaw Reaches 3,000 Strikeouts, Cements Legacy in Dodgers History

Blue Jays Win 11–9 Over Yankees: Toronto Survives Slugfest to Tie AL East Lead

Mets 7–3 Brewers: Nimmo’s Slam, Tidwell’s First Win Snap Skid

Braves 8–3 Angels: Profar Homers in Return as Atlanta Explodes in Sixth

Cubs 5–4 Guardians: All-Star Outfield Duo Fuels Win as Chicago Holds Off Cleveland

Giants 6–5 Diamondbacks (F/10): Lee Nearly Hits for Cycle in Walk-Off Win

🔥 Top Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Dodgers 5, White Sox 4

Clayton Kershaw reached 3,000 career strikeouts and Freddie Freeman capped a dramatic ninth-inning rally with a walk-off single, lifting the Dodgers to a 5–4 win over the White Sox at home.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history — and just the fourth left-hander — to reach 3,000 strikeouts, freezing Vinny Capra to end the sixth.

• The White Sox jumped ahead early with a two-run homer from Austin Slater and added runs from Andrew Benintendi and Edgar Quero to lead 4–2 after six.

• Will Smith and Andy Pages hit solo homers in the first and second to get the Dodgers on the board.

• In the ninth, Michael Conforto led off with a single, and Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim drew walks to load the bases.

• Shohei Ohtani beat out a double play to make it 4–3.

• Mookie Betts tied the game with a sac fly.

• Freeman followed with a walk-off single to right to complete the comeback.

• Max Muncy exited Wednesday’s game early with a scary knee injury, MRI to come.

📊 Notable Stats:

Clayton Kershaw (LAD): 6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 K – 3,000th career strikeout
Freddie Freeman (LAD): 2-for-5, game-winning RBI
Will Smith (LAD): Solo HR (11), 2-for-3, BB
Andy Pages (LAD): Solo HR (17), 1-for-4
Shohei Ohtani (LAD): RBI groundout, SB (12)

Austin Slater (CHW): 2-for-5, 2-R HR (3)
Andrew Benintendi (CHW): 2B, RBI
Edgar Quero (CHW): RBI single
Brandon Eisert (CHW): 1 IP, HR allowed
Grant Taylor (CHW): 1.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Blue Jays 11, Yankees 9

The Blue Jays erupted for seven runs in the 1st and survived a furious Yankees comeback, including Aaron Judge’s game-tying blast in the 8th, to pull out an 11–9 win in a wild affair. George Springer scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, and Addison Barger added insurance with an RBI single. With the win, Toronto pulled even with New York atop the AL East at 48–38.

This game was definitely worth the watch, if you missed it check out the full video highlight here.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Toronto exploded in the 1st inning, starting with Alejandro Kirk’s two-run double followed by Addison Barger’s 3-run homer and Davis Schneider’s 2-run blast to make it 7–0 early.

• The Yankees responded with a 3-run homer from Giancarlo Stanton in the 5th, trimming the deficit to 8–6.

• In the 6th, New York pulled within one after an RBI fielder’s choice from Cody Bellinger, then tied it in the 8th on Aaron Judge’s massive 2-run homer — his 31st of the year.

• Toronto answered in the bottom of the 8th when George Springer scored on a wild pitch to reclaim the lead at 10–9.

• Addison Barger added breathing room moments later with a sharp RBI single to make it 11–9.

• Jeff Hoffman handled the 9th to secure the dramatic win in a game that featured five lead changes and 28 combined baserunners.

📊 Notable Stats:

TOR
Addison Barger (TOR): 2-for-4, HR (10), 4 RBI, BB, SB
Davis Schneider (TOR): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2, 3), 3 RBI
Alejandro Kirk (TOR): 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
George Springer (TOR): 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB (10)
José Berríos (TOR): 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 K

NYY
Aaron Judge (NYY): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (31), 3 RBI, BB
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY): 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, BB
Ben Rice (NYY): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Cody Bellinger (NYY): 1-for-5, RBI, SB (9)
Will Warren (NYY): 4.0 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Mets 7, Brewers 3

Brandon Nimmo crushed a grand slam and Blade Tidwell earned his first big league win as the Mets bounced back in Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, beating the Brewers 7–3 at Citi Field to snap a four-game skid.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• A second-inning rally turned on a deflected infield grounder that loaded the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Nimmo’s grand slam to right-center — his 16th homer of the year.

• Francisco Lindor, bumped to the No. 2 spot in the lineup, followed with a solo shot to make it back-to-back homers and a 5–0 lead.

• Rookie Blade Tidwell, after Huascar Brazobán’s scoreless first, threw 4.1 innings of three-run ball to secure his first career win. All three runs came in the sixth, including back-to-back Brewers homers from Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio.

• Lindor added an RBI single in the sixth to score Ronny Mauricio, padding the lead and securing the Mets’ 30th home win of the season.

• Edwin Díaz closed it out with 1.1 dominant innings and three strikeouts.

📊 Notable Stats:

Brandon Nimmo (NYM): 2-for-5, HR (16), 4 RBI, SB (8)
Francisco Lindor (NYM): 3-for-4, HR (17), 2B (16), 3 RBI, HBP
Juan Soto (NYM): 1-for-3, 2 BB
Blade Tidwell (NYM): 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Edwin Díaz (NYM): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K

Christian Yelich (MIL): 1-for-3, HR (17), RBI, BB
Jackson Chourio (MIL): 2-for-4, HR (14), RBI
Rhys Hoskins (MIL): 2-for-3, 2B (12), BB
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Braves 8, Angels 3

Jurickson Profar made a loud return from suspension with a homer and a pair of hits, while the Braves snapped out of their scoring slump with a seven-run sixth to take down the Angels 8–3 at Truist Park.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• After missing 80 games, Profar was met with a mix of cheers and boos but answered with a single ahead of Sean Murphy’s three-run blast in the sixth and launched a solo shot of his own in the seventh.

• The Braves had been held scoreless for 21 straight innings until Murphy's homer opened the floodgates in the sixth.

• Moments later, Matt Olson connected for a grand slam — his 16th home run of the season — to break the game open.

• Didier Fuentes labored through 3.2 innings but Atlanta’s bullpen combined for 5.1 innings of one-run ball, striking out seven to hold the lead.

• Michael Harris II added a stolen base and two hits from the 8-spot to help spark Atlanta’s offense from the bottom of the order.

• Braves announced some unfortunate news today as well, Spencer Schwellenbach was placed on the IL with a fractured elbow, likely out until September.

📊 Notable Stats:

Matt Olson (ATL): 3-for-5, 2B (22), HR (16), 4 RBI
Sean Murphy (ATL): 1-for-4, HR (12), 3 RBI
Jurickson Profar (ATL): 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, 2 R
Michael Harris II (ATL): 2-for-4, SB (12)
Aaron Bummer (ATL): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K

Jorge Soler (LAA): 1-for-4, HR (9), RBI
Jo Adell (LAA): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA): 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Ryan Zeferjahn (LAA): 0.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB

Cubs 5, Guardians 4

Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, fresh off being named All-Star starters, each reached base multiple times and stole a base, while Seiya Suzuki drove in three to lead the Cubs past the Guardians 5–4 at Wrigley Field.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• In the 4th, Crow-Armstrong ripped an RBI triple and later scored on Suzuki’s two-run double as the Cubs turned a 2–1 deficit into a 4–2 lead.

• Tucker, who walked and singled, added his 21st stolen base and scored twice, continuing a stellar first season in Chicago.

• Suzuki collected his 73rd RBI of the season — the most in MLB — with a walk, double, and sac fly.

• The Cubs’ bullpen held off a late push, with Daniel Palencia working around a run in the 9th to earn the save.

• With the win, Chicago improved to 47–38 and remained atop the NL Central.

📊 Notable Stats:

Seiya Suzuki (CHC): 2-for-3, 2B (20), 3 RBI, BB
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 2-for-4, 3B (4), 2 RBI, BB, SB (26)
Kyle Tucker (CHC): 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB (21)
Shota Imanaga (CHC): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 K

Carlos Santana (CLE): 2-for-4, HR (10), RBI
Lane Thomas (CLE): 1-for-3, HR (4), RBI, BB
David Fry (CLE): 2-for-3, HR (2), RBI
Tanner Bibee (CLE): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K

Giants 6, Diamondbacks 5

Jung Hoo Lee snapped a two-month slump with three hits — including a triple and double — and Patrick Bailey’s 10th-inning sac fly lifted the Giants to a 6–5 win over the Diamondbacks.

This was definitely another game that was worth the watch, check out the full recap here.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Mike Yastrzemski opened the scoring with a leadoff homer (8) in the 1st.

• Jung Hoo Lee added an RBI triple in the 1st, then doubled and singled, finishing a home run shy of the cycle.

• Brett Wisely and Patrick Bailey each delivered RBI hits in the 6th to extend the lead to 5–2.

• Ketel Marte tied it in the 9th with a clutch 2-run homer off Camilo Doval, who had allowed just one long ball all season.

• In the 10th, Lee advanced to third on a Heliot Ramos infield single, and Bailey lifted a sac fly to bring him home.

• Doval bounced back with a 1-2-3 10th inning and struck out two to seal the win.

📊 Notable Stats:

Jung Hoo Lee (SF): 3-for-5, 2B (18), 3B (7), RBI, 2 R
Mike Yastrzemski (SF): Solo HR (8), 1-for-5
Patrick Bailey (SF): 1-for-3, 2 RBI, sac fly
Camilo Doval (SF): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 K, Win
Erik Miller (SF): 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K in bases-loaded jam

Ketel Marte (ARI): 2-for-4, HR (18), 2 RBI, BB
Alek Thomas (ARI): Solo HR (5), 1-for-5
Merrill Kelly (ARI): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Jake Woodford (ARI): 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER

Pirates 5, Cardinals 0
M. Keller: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 7 SO, 1 BB
S. Gray: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB

Athletics 5, Rays 4
R. Pepiot: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 9 SO, 3 BB
M. Schuemann: 3-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Tigers 11, Nationals 2 (Game 1)
R. Greene: 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI
D. Smith: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB

Tigers 4, Nationals 9 (Game 2)
J. Flaherty: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 9 SO, 2 BB
C. Henry: 1.0 IP, 1 H

Padres 6, Phillies 4 (Game 1)
N. Pivetta: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 6 SO
S. Johnson: 2.0 IP, 2 SO

Phillies 5, Padres 1 (Game 2)
C. Sánchez: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 SO
M. Kepler: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Twins 2, Marlins 1
J. Junk: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 7 SO
S. Woods Richardson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 SO, 2 BB

Reds 3, Red Sox 5 (Game 1)
B. Bello: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 SO, 1 BB
A. Chapman: 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Reds 8, Red Sox 4 (Game 2)
N. Martinez: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 SO
C. Encarnacion-Strand: 2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Astros 5, Rockies 3
H. Brown: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 8 SO, 1 BB
M. Moniak: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Rangers 6, Orioles 0
N. Eovaldi: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 5 SO, 1 BB
D. Dunning: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO, 1 BB

Mariners 3, Royals 2
Bobby Witt Jr.: 2-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (23)
Randy Arozarena: 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, HR (12)

⚾ Must-Watch Games Today

Yankees (48–38) at Blue Jays (48–38)
7:07 PM ET
Clarke Schmidt (4–4, 3.09 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (7–4, 4.29 ERA)

Brewers (48–38) at Mets (49–38)
7:10 PM ET
José Quintana (6–2, 3.30 ERA) vs. David Peterson (5–4, 3.30 ERA)

Royals (40–47) at Mariners (45–41)
10:10 PM ET
Seth Lugo (5–5, 2.74 ERA) vs. Bryan Woo (7–4, 2.93 ERA)

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