Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw felt responsible for Max Muncy sustaining a knee injury the same night he recorded his 3,000th career strikeout.

Just moments before Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to join the exclusive club, Chicago White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor slid into Muncy’s knee while trying to steal third base.

Muncy exited the game and had to be assisted off the field with the help of a trainer. Kershaw then threw his third strikeout of the night, and received a standing ovation from an electric Dodger Stadium crowd.

However, while the three-time Cy Young winner made history against the White Sox, Kershaw was thinking about his teammate.

“Kersh came running up and gave me a big hug,” Muncy said Tuesday during an appearance on Foul Territory. “I was telling him ‘Congrats’ and he was sitting there saying, ‘Dude, I’m sorry.’ I’m like, what are you sorry for, it’s not your fault. He goes, ‘No, I let the guy get on second, I’m sorry.’”

While Kershaw profusely apologized to Muncy, the Dodgers third baseman was adamant that the injury was not the southpaw’s fault.

“I’m like, no it’s not your fault, man,” Muncy continued. “He came up and gave me a big hug … especially for Kersh in that moment to come up and give me a hug, in that moment, that was awesome. I wanted to give him a hug on the field to congratulate him but obviously I wasn’t out there.”

Muncy’s absence from the lineup has been evident as the offensive has struggled to produce since the third baseman landed on the injured list with a bone bruise in his left knee.

The Dodgers snapped a seven-game losing streak Saturday against the San Francisco Giants, and the hope is that the bats continue trending in the right direction while Muncy is sidelined.]

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images