Head-to-head matchups within the team framework of the game is one of the things I love about baseball. When Clayton Kershaw faced Mike Trout, it was the first time reigning MVP's had faced off against each other in the regular season. Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants faced Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees in the 1937 World Series.
Kershaw caught Trout looking on a beautiful curveball in the first at bat that really buckled Trout's knees, Trout grounded into a force out in his second at bat, and Trout timed a curveball pretty well in his third at bat but Yasiel Puig made a diving catch on the third at bat. Three up and three down.
Kershaw said of Trout after the game, "He's a great hitter, probably the best hitter in the game. I was just trying to get him out." Trout responded by saying, "I felt like I was seeing him pretty good. He was throwing all his pitches- cutting, sinking, sliding, curving, the whole bit."
Howie Kendrick played with Trout for the past four seasons with the Angels and he got to watch the battle from his position at second base. Kendrick admires the way Trout plays the game and said "Doesn't get any better than this, does it?"
This round went to Kershaw. Last season Trout went two for three with an opposite field double against Kershaw so in his career, Trout is two for six. I look forward to this matchup for many years to come.
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