Kershaw tosses no-hitter

Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - A throwing error by Hanley Ramirez ruined Clayton Kershaw's bid for a perfect game in the seventh inning, but the Dodgers' ace was still able to complete his first career no-hitter on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Kershaw (7-2), a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, struck out a career-high 15 and did not walk a batter in the Dodgers' 8-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He threw 107 pitches and won his fourth straight start.

"You don't really ever think about getting to do something like that," said Kershaw. "You always think about winning a World Series or being a part of that. As far as individual stuff goes, though, this ranks up there. Pretty cool."

It was the second no-no thrown by a Dodgers pitcher this season. Josh Beckett tossed his first career no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 25. The Dodgers have the only two no-hitters in the majors this season.

"Beckett was kidding around when he threw his (no-hitter) and said, 'Someday I'll teach you how to do that,'" said Kershaw.

The only other season the Dodgers had two no-hitters thrown was 1956, when Carl Erskine and Sal Maglie turned the trick for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Kershaw retired the first 18 batters he faced before Corey Dickerson reached base to start the seventh. Dickerson hit a chopper to Ramirez and the shortstop threw wildly to first. The no-hitter was then in danger when Troy Tulowitzki hit a sharp grounder down the third-base line. Miguel Rojas made a nice stop and completed the long throw to first.

"It wasn't on purpose," said Kershaw of Ramirez's error. "It was a pretty tough play. Under normal circumstances, that's pretty close to a hit."

Ramirez was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesday night's game with a bruised ring finger on his throwing hand. He was replaced on defense by Carlos Triunfel to start the eighth.

The only perfect game in Dodgers history came from Sandy Koufax in 1965.

It was the 22nd no-hitter in franchise history, including the 12th since the club relocated to Los Angeles.

The Rockies were no-hit for the first time since 1996 when Hideo Nomo (also with the Dodgers) accomplished the feat at Coors Field. The Rockies were also no-hit by Al Leiter that same season.

"I think that anytime there is a special moment for someone, you want to watch how the guy responds," said Tulowitzki. "Clayton, obviously, I have a lot of respect for. I know how hard he works. It's nice for me to see how something means enough to bring tears to (their) eyes. It means that they care."

Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- on six hits with five walks over 3 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers got to De La Rosa early and often. Dee Gordon and Ramirez walked to start the first. De La Rosa's throwing error moved the runners up a base, and Gordon scored on Yasiel Puig's sacrifice fly. Matt Kemp hit an RBI single two batters later.

Los Angeles tacked on five more runs in the third. Puig worked a two-out walk and raced home on Adrian Gonzalez's double to left. Kemp followed with an RBI double of his own. Scott Van Slyke and A.J. Ellis walked to load the bases for Rojas, who cleared the bases with a double.

Gonzalez added an RBI single in the fourth.

Game Notes

Kershaw, who improved to 12-5 lifetime against the Rockies, became the first Dodgers left-hander to throw a no-hitter since Fernando Valenzuela in 1990 ... The Dodgers went 5-1 on their six-game homestand ... Kemp had three hits ... The Rockies were no-hit for the third time in franchise history.