Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw made history on Saturday night by setting a new franchise record, passing Don Sutton for the most regular-season strikeouts in Dodgers history. Kershaw notched his 2,697th punchout in the fourth inning of a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, getting rookie Spencer Torkelson swinging on an 0-2 slider.

After Kershaw made history, play was halted and the lefty acknowledged the roaring crowd several times before he got back to work:

Kershaw couldn't help but show his appreciation for the fans after the game. The Dodgers ace claimed he wasn't expecting that type of response, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez:

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“It's special,” Kershaw said after producing another solid outing in the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. “I didn't expect it. I understand that the Dodgers are a historic franchise and have been around a long time, so the guys that are on that list that I was fortunate enough to pass was a big deal. But I didn't know that fans would know or honestly care that much. It was special for me. It really was. It was cool to see. I tried to brush it off and keep going, but they wouldn't let me. It definitely meant a lot.”

Kershaw wound up pitching six innings in the game, giving up just one run and striking out seven to get to 2,700 strikeouts. While it took Sutton 550 appearances to get his 2,696 strikeouts, Kershaw broke the mark in just his 383rd.

The Dodgers lefty has been outstanding so far in 2022 after taking a step back in 2021. Kershaw boasts a 2.35 ERA in four starts and has 30 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. He was infamously pulled from a perfect game after seven innings in his first start of the season.

Los Angeles lost on Saturday and is only 5-5 over the last 10 games, but the overall record still sits at a stellar 13-7. That's a half-game back of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West.