LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw's scoreless streak ended at 41 innings Thursday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers ace gave up a solo homer to San Diego's Chase Headley.
The switch-hitting Headley drove a 1-2 pitch to left-center with two outs in the sixth inning for the Padres' second hit off Kershaw. The two-time Cy Young Award winner came within 18 innings of the major league record set by Dodgers right-hander Orel Hershiser, who threw 59 straight shutout innings in 1988.
Kershaw's streak was the longest in the majors since Brandon Webb went 42 innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007.
Kershaw's astounding run included his no-hitter June 18 against Colorado. He also limited the Rockies to two hits over eight innings in the rematch last Friday at Coors Field.
The previous run against the 26-year-old left-hander came on an RBI double by Arizona's Aaron Hill in the third inning of Kershaw's 4-3 win June 13 at Dodger Stadium. His next outing was the no-hitter.
During his scoreless streak, Kershaw allowed 17 hits, struck out 52 batters, walked six and stranded 23 runners -- four at third base. He retired the leadoff hitter in 36 of those innings.
Hershiser pitched scoreless ball over the final six regular-season starts of his only Cy Young season. He broke the previous big league mark of 58 consecutive scoreless innings, set in 1968 by another former Dodger -- Hall of Famer Don Drysdale.