Dodgers 8 Giants 0: 3 IN A ROW

EXHALE YOU GUYS.

The most important player in a long time for this franchise went out, and thoroughly dominated a lesser pitcher, a lesser lineup, and in 2015, a lesser team to secure the Dodgers’ 3rd straight division title and a date against the New York Mets on October 9th -shudder-.

But there is so much time to break down and analyze that series, two and a half weeks to be exact, for now.

PARTY

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Ruggiano, A.J. Ellis, Enrique Hernandez in CF as heroes for this game. Who would have ever thought, in June that this was a possibility in the division clinching game in late September?

Madness.

Kiké was the catalyst in this game, as he singled in the first inning and came around to score on a Justin Turner sacrifice fly, and while we were disappointed about the outcome then, the offense didn’t disappoint for long. Hernandez’s next plate appearance, in the 3rd inning resulted in a Madison Bumgarner meatball being deposited in the left center field bleachers to put the Dodgers up 2-0, it felt borderline insurmountable at the end, and while there was still stress at this point, Kershaw’s pitching made me feel secure for the duration of the game.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Ask anybody watching it, and the “turning point” that will surely be fetishized was Clayton Kershaw‘s amazing AB in the 5th inning, Kershaw, facing Bumgarner took Madison to a full count and saw 12 pitches (!) a season high for a pitcher before grounding out to Kelby Tomlinson, considering the situation, the Dodgers really needed that outcome because Bumgarner looked as if he was settling in, the result of that plate appearance wasn’t all that special but forcing him to throw that many pitches was a special, special thing.

However Justin Ruggiano, who wallowed in AAA for the Mariners for much of the season, and A.J. Ellis, who has resurrected his career when Yasmani Grandal has just been bad an injured for most of the second half both hit back to back home runs against Madison Bumgarner, who -admittedly- had the best postseason of any pitcher ever just last season.

I will say that knocking Bum out in a regular season elimination doesn’t necessarily change the narrative that he’s a big game pitcher, but my goodness this was vintage Kershaw.

For awhile it looked like his command was going to be marginal at best (not that he needed “no hitter” type command to win this game), but all of a sudden it clicked after his 13 pitch AB, he struck out Brandon Crawford. Then Mac Williamson. Then Kevin Frandsen. Then Trevor Brown. Then Angel Pagan. Then Kelby Tomlinson. It was unfair, and for good measure after Matt Duffy and Buster Posey had the gall to put the ball in play, Kershaw put away Marlon Byrd in impressive fashion.

This all makes you forget that Kevin Frandsen had the sole hit. So close for a

Kershaw’s night though could be summed up by this

That’s that Gregor Blanco pitch with implications. That’s public enemy number one in a really high profile game. 13 strikeouts, a complete game one hitter to clinch the division, a game winning double hands up the air by Clayton on the mound to finish a successful campaign? Just like heaven. If there is anything holy in the world the Dodgers will jump into the damn bay area. 3 straight division championships is simply unprecedented by the team, and Clayton Kershaw should just do this during the celebration

So exhale, and maybe take HFA from the Mets?

I can’t wait for Clayton Kershaw starting game 1 of the NLDS, there is meaningful baseball in October for the 3rd straight year. I am stoked.