Kershaw pitches in Futures Game

Great Lakes Loons pitcher Clayton Kershaw pitched for the United States team in the MLB Futures Game on Sunday Afternoon as his team lost to the World squad 7-2 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

In the ballgame, the southpaw pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up two runs.

Kershaw was joined by fellow Dodgers prospect Chin-Lung Hu from the Jacksonville Suns in the game. Hu represented the World team and was named MVP of the ballgame after going 2-for-2 with two RBI.

While on the mound, a battle of Midwest League opponents took place when West Michigan centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez stepped to the plate against Kershaw. The matchup ruled in favor of the Whitecaps prospect when Hernandez drew an eight-pitch walk.

Kershaw brought a record of 7-3 with a 2.12 ERA coming into the game. In 76.1 innings on the mound this year, he has given up 50 hits and struck out 103 batters. Opposing hitters are hitting .187 against the Dallas native.

Kershaw has had dominant stretches this season, such as only allowing one earned run in 30 innings of work. Kershaw also holds the Loons record for most consecutive scoreless innings pitched with 13.

At 19 years, 110 days old, Kershaw was the fourth youngest player playing in the 2007 Futures Game and youngest member of the US squad.

Baseball America ranks Kershaw as the No. 2 prospect in the Dodgers system. He participated in the Midwest League All-Star Game June 19 in Geneva, IL and was named the winning pitcher in the contest.

Notes: Hernandez went 0-for-1 with the walk from Kershaw in the ballgame. Fellow Midwest Leaguer and Texas Rangers prospect John Whittleman made a splash when he homered over the high brick wall in right field for the U.S. team.

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Coverage of the Futures Game from milb.com.