Buehler dominates Red Sox with historic performance

A star was born in Hollywood on Friday.

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander Walker Buehler pitched the game of his life in Game 3 of the World Series, shutting out the Boston Red Sox over seven innings in a dominating performance at Dodger Stadium.

Buehler threw a career-high 108 pitches, 72 of which went for strikes, and the Red Sox couldn't touch him. He allowed just two hits, both singles, and walked none while striking out seven. His final pitch of the evening was a 98-mph fastball that was pumped past a helpless J.D. Martinez.

None other than the great Sandy Koufax, who had more than a few memorable October performances of his own, gave Buehler a deserved standing ovation as he left the mound.

Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, his outing went to waste when Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who replaced Buehler on the mound in the eighth inning, allowed a game-tying home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. The homer denied Buehler of picking up his first career World Series win.

Still, Buehler's pitching won't soon be forgotten, as it's now etched in the Fall Classic history books. He's only the fifth pitcher aged 24 or younger to have thrown at least seven shutout innings while striking out seven or more batters in a World Series game.

(Courtesy: Baseball-Reference)

Additionally, he's just the third pitcher ever to throw seven shutout innings with at least seven strikeouts, no walks, and allow two or fewer hits. The only other pitchers to do this were Roger Clemens in 2000 and Don Larsen during his historic perfect game in 1956.

Buehler also became the first rookie to throw seven shutout innings while walking none in a World Series game since Cleveland's Gene Bearden did it in Game 3 of the 1948 series against the Boston Braves, according to Sportsnet Stats.