Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw admits how difficult it was for him to reach 3,000 career strikeouts on Wednesday night.

More people have flown to the moon than have struck out 3,000 major league hitters. And for Clayton Kershaw entering such an elite club will be a big piece of his legacy.

On a night that said plenty about the 18-year relationship between Kershaw and the Dodgers and Kershaw and the fan base, the left-hander showed why he stands alone among the 20 names on the list.