Open Extended ReactionsDENVER -- Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw inched closer to 3,000 career strikeouts Thursday, fanning five in six innings against the Colorado Rockies. Kershaw has 2,997 strikeouts in his 18-year career, three short of becoming the 20th major leaguer to reach the milestone. Kershaw struck out three in the first two innings Thursday and got his fourth for the final out of the fifth. Kershaw threw 69 pitches, 41 for strikes. Kershaw recorded two strikeouts on his 73 mph curve and got three more on sliders against a Rockies lineup that had all right-handed batters.