LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seeing his best friend only one out away from pitching a no-hitter, A.J. Ellis got a bit teary eyed.

Not that Ellis could get too emotional, though. The Dodgers catcher still had to call the pitches for Clayton Kershaw to finish off the gem.

Kershaw added to his most remarkable resume Wednesday night, throwing his first no-hitter and striking out a career-high 15 as Los Angeles beat Colorado 8-0.

Only one batter got on base against Kershaw — Corey Dickerson reached on a throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez leading off the seventh inning. Kershaw struck out a swinging Dickerson to end the game.

“I guess I haven’t really thought of the ramifications of throwing one of these things, but it’s definitely special company,” Kershaw said.

“I don’t take for granted the history of this, or what it means. I definitely understand all that. But as far as individually, it’s right up there with winning playoff games and all that stuff. It’s pretty cool,” he said.

The 26-year-old lefty with the big-bending curveball, two Cy Young Awards, three ERA titles and a pair of strikeout crowns shut down a pretty good team, too.

The Rockies began the night leading the majors in batting average, hits and on-base percentage, and topped the NL in runs and homers.

“I started tearing up out there in the ninth inning, just sitting out there catching and watching him throw after he got those first two outs,” Ellis said.

“To do it here at Dodger Stadium and do it with my best friend on the mound means the world to me. It’s a game I’ll watch on replays with my kids forever,” he said.



Braves RHP Gavin Floyd breaks bone in elbow

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta Braves right-hander Gavin Floyd has a broken bone his throwing elbow.

The Braves said that Floyd broke the olecranon in his right arm during Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Floyd will return to Atlanta on Friday to be examined by team doctors and to determine how long he will be sidelined.

Floyd flexed his pitching arm awkwardly after giving up a long foul ball to Jayson Werth on the first pitch of the seventh inning. Floyd then left the game for reliever Anthony Varvaro.

Floyd was making his ninth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said the two injuries are not related.

The Braves lost two starters — Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy — to Tommy John surgery during spring training.