No, the left-handed 13-hit stats were just a byproduct of trying to get his teammates back to their own beds and sunny weather in California as soon as possible, as Tuesday night’s match ended after midnight due to a rain delay. “Just go fast,” Kershaw said of his game ethic. “It was cold. I think after last night’s game, how late it was and the quick upset, I knew everyone was grinding except me. I slept well, so I was ready to leave.” Kershaw sent the Twins batters in one-two-three ways until he hit 80 pitches in his season debut. With the padlock that coordinated the spring camp, the Kershaw was built on only about 75 pitches and six entries. Roberts consulted him after the sixth, and Kershaw made the call that he wanted to give one more before stopping around 80-85 pitches. The 34-year-old – whose 2021 season ended before the playoffs due to hand pain – said it was a difficult decision, especially when catcher Austin Barnes was taken into account. The applause rained down from the announced crowd of 17,101 fans, many of them wearing blue Dodgers, at Target Field when Alex Vesia checked in for the eighth inning. It could become the 24th perfect game in MLB history, the first since Felix Hernandez made it to Seattle on August 15, 2012. Kershaw, three-time Cy Young Award winner, flew without hitting Colorado in 2014 . Vesia allowed a single by Gary Sanchez in the eighth for the Twins’ unique success. There has never been a perfect combined game in the big ones. “There’s a point where I have to decide, ‘For what purpose?’” Roberts said. game or not hit, I’m all in. But again, at what cost? “. There are a lot of people cheering for the Dodgers, not only that [this game] and Clayton to throw a non-hitter, but for the Dodgers to win the World Series. “To do that, we need him healthy.” Roberts said the decision was really easy, given the long-term goals of the team and Kershaw. The move also did not appear to shock the Twins, including manager Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli praised Kershaw’s slider, which did most of the damage as it did not drive much louder than about 90 mph. …