Dodgers Beat Up on San Diego; Clayton Kershaw Reigns Supreme

Clayton Kershaw is simply the best. The Claw picked up his 18th win of the year, and the super ace only allowed 3 measly hits through eight innings of work on Monday night versus San Diego. Not only were the Padres worked over by Kersh, but the Dodger bats jumped all over Odrisamer Despaigne. Juan Uribe and Carl Crawford both went yard, and Hanley Ramirez had a huge four-hit night.

Despite a trifecta of bad throws on one single play in the sixth inning which led to two unearned runs for the Padres, the Dodgers were able to shut down third-place San Diego much like what they have done against N.L. West opponents for most of the season.

With their fourth win in a row, the Dodgers picked up 1/2 game on the idled Giants on Monday. Things are getting down to the nitty gritty, and the Dodgers have visions of division crowns and sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Dodgers 9 13 3

Padres 4 4 2

WP- Kershaw (18-3)

LP- Despaigne(3-6)

S-HR- Uribe (8), Crawford (7), Grandal (12)

The Dodgers were aggressive right away, and they scored quickly in the bottom of the first off Odrisamer Despaigne. Gordon singled and stole second for his fifty-ninth stolen base of the year. Hanley Ramirez looped a RBI single to left field. Dodgers took a 1-0 lead, but Ramirez was caught stealing second with Adrian Gonzalez at the plate. Gonzo grounded out, and Kemp flied out.

Clayton Kershaw, future M.V.P., pitched three perfect innings against the Padres.

Clayton Kershaw is one of the best athletes on the planet. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Rene Rivera mowed down another Dodger runner in the second when Carl Crawford was caught stealing. Juan Uribe had something to say about that when he sliced a solo homerun to right field. His eighth homerun of the season was just fair. 2-0 Dodgers.

Yangervis Solarte broke Kershaw’s string when he led off the top of the fourth with a single to left field. The Padres got on the board after Rymer Liriano grounded into a force out and stole a rare base off Kershaw. Jedd Gyorko drew a walk, and Rivera singled in Liriano. The Dodger lead was cut in half, 2-1.

The Dodgers countered with two runs in the home half of the fourth. Matt Kemp had a great at-bat against Despaigne and drew a walk. Crawford singled to right field. Yasiel Puig then broke through with a RBI single to center field. Kemp brought in the third Dodger run of the night. Cameron Maybin lost where the ball went for a moment, and the error allowed Puig to advance to second and Crawford to third. Despaigne reared back to strike out Uribe who had hit a homerun off him the previous inning. A.J. Ellis grounded out to second, but Crawford is able to come in to score. Dodgers ended up with two runs, 4-1 Dodgers.

Is Hanley Ramirez heating up? The Dodger shortstop collected his third hit, a single, with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Gonzo walked, and Matt Kemp went down to get the breaking ball for a double to left field. Hanley scored, and that would be all for Despaigne. Kemp extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his 33rd double of the season. 5-1 Dodgers. Frank Garces came in to relieve Despaigne out of the San Diego bullpen.

Good thing the Dodgers invested in that second bubble machine. Carl Crawford went yard against Garces, and the three-run homerun to

Sep 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford hits a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the 5th inning during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

right field gave the Dodgers a commanding 8-1 lead. All four runs in the inning were the responsibility of Despaigne. Juan Uribe followed suit with a single, and the Padres had to make another pitching change. Leonel Campos proceeded to promptly walk A.J. Ellis. Kershaw struck out to end the long, four-run inning.

Odrisamer Despaigne pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed 7 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks on 96 pitches.

In the sixth, the Padres scored two runs off three bad throws by the Dodgers. Yangervis Solarte walked to lead off the frame. Liriano singled, and Jedd Gyorko struck out swinging. Then the string of miscues is unfurled. Rene Rivera flied out to Puig in center who charged to catch up with the shallow hit ball. Puig threw the ball wide of first, then A.J. Ellis made a bad throw to second, and then Hanley Ramirez threw wildly toward home. Two runs scored on the three errors charged to Puig, A.J. and Hanley. Kershaw had enough, and he struck out Yasmani Grandal to end the inning. 8-3 Dodgers.

The hat trick of errors was perfect for Kings Night at Dodger Stadium.

Gonzo doubled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth after Gordon and Hanley both struck out. Matt Kemp drew a walk. Crawford struck out, and Campos ended up striking out the side.

Kershaw pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, R.J. Alvarez became the fourth pitcher of the night for San Diego. Other than a walk to Puig, the Dodgers went down quietly.

Kershaw struck out two in the eighth, and the ace was virtually unhittable during the night.

Clayton Kershaw pitched 8 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks on 89 pitches. His ERA is now 1.67.

Don Mattingly and Kershaw were shown having a heated discussion in the dugout presumably about Kershaw ending his night.

Don Mattingly likes what he sees during the 9-4 Dodger win over San Diego. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Kershaw’s competitive drive is so fierce, he was arguing to go out in the ninth and finish off the game itself. Mattingly wisely preserved an inning from Kershaw which could factor in during the long playoff push.

Hanley Ramirez collected his fourth hit, a RBI single in the bottom of the ninth off pitcher Alex Torres. Gordon scored after reaching on a throwing error by Alexi Amarista. 9-3 Dodgers.

Pedro Baez was asked to get the final three outs in the top of the ninth. Gyorko pops out to Uribe in foul territory for the first out. Uribe’s sharp defense was key again tonight. Baez struck out Rivera. Yasmani Grandal then hit a solo homerun to right field with two outs. 9-4 Dodgers. Baez struck out Tommy Medica to finish things off.

Dodgers Magic Number: 16

The Dodgers improve to 82-62 on the season. They pick up a 1/2 game on the idled Giants, and they are now 3 1/2 games up in the N.L. West. Roberto Hernandez will go up against Andrew Cashner for Game 2 on Tuesday night.