Kershaw Earns 19th Win, Dodgers Win Series To Extend NL West Lead To Three Games

The Dodgers bounced back from a 9-0 blowout loss in the series opener Friday night to win two in a row and leave San Francisco with a three game lead in the NL West. Once again it was Clayton Kershaw who shut down the Giants, winning his MLB leading 19th game of the season. The Dodgers took advantage of two San Francisco throwing errors, and enjoyed the fruits of a clutch two-run home run from Matt Kemp in their 4-2 defeat of the Giants. The Dodger’s magic number is now 11.

Kershaw had a career 0.69 ERA at At&t Park, so seeing him allow even just a lone run in San Francisco was strange. Kershaw had a little bit of trouble getting his curveball over early, but he’s still Clayton Kershaw. The left handed ace threw eight strong innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, with one walk and nine whiffs. Kershaw made 110 pitches, and his ERA is now at 1.70. Kershaw is now 13-5 against the Giants and 8-2 at At&t Park. Kershaw is nothing short of incredible.

Dodgers 4 9 0

Giants     2 7 2

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Kershaw’s mound opponent, right hander Yusmeiro Petit, couldn’t match him. The youngster allowed four runs, (three earned) on eight hits over seven innings. He whiffed eight and walked none and took the loss.

The Giants played a sloppy game. There were several misplays, two throwing errors, and a base running gaffe that helped the Dodger’s cause. The Dodgers were able to take advantage. The Dodgers scored first by plating two runs in the second inning, and then later scored two more runs in the sixth. In that second frame, The Giants made two throwing errors on one play, on a Uribe single. (reminiscent of the Dodger’s three throwing errors on one play) The Dodgers got two singles (Hanley and Uribe), the two San Francisco throwing errors (Pence and Petit) and a sacrifice fly from A.J. Ellis that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

The Giants scored once in their half of the third, and then plated another run in the seventh. In the third, Kershaw couldn’t put away opposing starter Yusmeiro Petit who was batting .050 coming into the game. Petit had a nine-pitch at-bat and drew a walk. After Pagan was whiffed, Panik’s bloop single extended the inning, Then Buster Posey’s single through the right side scored Petit. However Posey would be thrown out trying to go to second on a great throw from Puig. Another costly mistake from the Giants.

The Dodgers had Gonzalez double with one out in the sixth. Then Matt Kemp homered over the center field wall to put the Dodgers up 4-1. A three run lead with Kershaw on the mound seemed insurmountable for the Giants.

The Giants would score again in the seventh. Susac and Arias with consecutive singles. After Blanco whiffed, pinch-hitter Matt Duffy’s bloop single to center scored Susac to make the score 4-2 Dodgers. Kershaw would get Pagan to ground out to get out of the inning.

Kenley Jansen would pitch a perfect ninth inning to record his 42nd save of the season. The Dodgers win and leave San Francisco up by three games in the NL West! Great game! Here’s how it turned out….

The Dodgers threaten in the top of the first, but don’t score. Dee Gordon singles to lead-off the game, and then steals second. That’s his 61st steal of the season. With Yasiel Puig at the plate, Petit whirls around for a pick-off play at second base and Gordon is called out. However the Dodgers challenged, and the call is overturned as Gordon had gotten back to the bag standing up just ahead of the tag. But the Dodgers couldn’t do anything this inning. Petit recovers to whiff Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, and Matt Kemp to end the inning.

Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in the bottom of the first and does what he does. Angel Pagan grounds to short. Joe Panik grounds back to the box, and Buster Posey is whiffed.

The Dodgers jump out in front in the top of the second. Hanley reaches on an infield single to shortstop. After Crawford flies out to right, Uribe singles through the right side, and the Giants make two throwing errors on one play. As Hanley tries to go to third, Hunter Pence’s throw to third base is way off and gets away, allowing Hanley to score. Petit was backing up the play, and his throw to the plate is off the mark, and Hanley scores sliding into Giant’s catcher Susac. Uribe goes to third on the two throwing errors, and then scores on a sacrifice fly to right field from A.J. Ellis. The Dodgers lead 2-0!

In the bottom of the second, Pence, and Sandoval both ground out to third. Susac doubles off the wall in left, but Kershaw whiffs Arias to end the inning. The Dodgers threaten again in the top of the third, but a double play gets the Giants out of the jam. Gordon leads-off with a bunt single. Puig a deflection single off of Petit’s rear end, puts runners at first and second. But Gonzalez flies out to left, and Kemp hits into a short hop 6-4-3 double play.

The Giants get on the board in the bottom of the third, but poor base running costs them. Blanco grounds out to start the inning, But Kershaw can’t retire Petit, the opposing starter who was batting .050. Then Pagan is whiffed on a called strike three. Panik bloops a single over Gordon’s head to put runners at first and second with two outs. Then Posey singles to center, which scores Petit, but Posey is thrown out trying to take second on a great throw from Puig. The Dodgers get out of it, but the lead is now 2-1.

Petit retires the Dodgers in order in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Kershaw whiffs Pence, Sandoval, and Susac pops out. 2-1 Dodgers after four frames. Petit whiffs two in the top of the fifth (Kershaw and Gordon). In the bottom of the fifth, Arias leads-off with a bloop single to center. Kershaw whiffs Blanco, and then eventually whiffs Petit when he is unable to get a bunt down. Finally after an intense battle, Kershaw gets Pagan to fly out to Puig. 2-1 Dodgers after five.

The Dodgers extend their lead in the sixth. Gonzo gets a one-out double over Pagan’s head. Then Kemp blasts a two-run shot into the center field seats. That’s number 20 on the season for Bison as the Dodgers go up 4-1!

Kershaw retires the side 123 in the bottom of the sixth. Move to the bottom of the seventh. With the Dodgers still up 4-1, Sandoval grounds to third for the first out. Susac singles, then Arias singles. Kershaw whiffs Blanco for the second out. Pinch-hitter Matt Duffy’s bloop single falls In between Puig and Gordon to score Susac. The Dodger’s lead is now 4-2. Puig nearly runs over Gordon on the play. Kersha gets Pagan to ground out to third to halt the threat.

In the top of the eighth, left hander Jeremy Affeldt retires Gordon, and then whiffs Puig. He hits Gonzo with a pitch, and then the Giants hook him and bring in right hander Jean Machi. He whiffs Kemp to end the inning, and we go to the bottom of the eighth.

Kershaw stays on the mound for the bottom of the eighth. He gets Panik to ground back to the box. Posey whiffs, and Pence flies out to Puig. Dodgers are up 4-2 at the end of eight innings.

In the top of the ninth, right hander Hunter Strickland whiffs Miguel Rojas. But Crawford doubles down the line in left. Uribe flies to left. A.J. grounds back to the box. We move to the bottom of the ninth. Enter Kenley Jansen to close it out. Sandoval grounds to third for the first out. Jansen then whiffs Susac and Arias for the final outs! Dodgers win 4-2!

The Dodgers are now 85-64 and now lead the Giants by three games with 13 left to play. It’s not over yet, as the Dodgers will fly to Colorado to begin a three game series on Monday night. Roberto Hernandez will match-up against right hander Christian Bergman at 5:40 PM.