Dodgers' Max Muncy helped off with knee injury vs. White Sox - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw's 3,000th career strikeout was preceded by a scary, dispiriting moment, when Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy injured his left knee and had to be helped off the field Wednesday night.

With one out in the sixth inning, Muncy jumped to catch a throw from Dodgers catcher Will Smith, then tagged out Chicago White Sox center fielder Michael A. Taylor on an attempted steal and immediately clutched his left knee, prompting a visit from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head trainer Thomas Albert.

Muncy wrapped his left arm around Albert and walked toward the third-base dugout, replaced by Enrique Hernandez. His injury, caused by Taylor's helmet slamming directly into the side of his left knee on a headfirst slide, was so gruesome that the team's broadcast opted not to show a replay.

The team said only that Muncy left the game with left knee pain.

Taylor also exited the game with what was initially diagnosed as a left trap contusion.