Editorials

Recap: Clayton Kershaw Throws Complete Game As Dodgers Sweep Giants

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Kershaw struck out Pagan to start the fourth inning and proceeded to again retire the side in order. After getting hit by a pitch, Turner stole second base with some aid from his helmet as it flew off and blocked Ehire Adrianza’s tag attempt.



However, Turner was then doubled up on a Crawford line drive to center, ending the inning. The Giants didn’t find any success in the fifth, with Posey and Belt bookending a Byrd fly out with strikeouts. Meanwhile Leake quietly continued to stifle the Dodgers as he set them down in order in the bottom of the fifth.

Kelby Tomlinson drew a leadoff walk in the sixth, only to appear to become Kershaw’s seventh pickoff victim. However, it was the Giants who successfully had the call overturned and it loomed large. Tomlinson stole second base after Adrianza struck out, and scored with two outs on a Pagan chopper that Turner misplayed and it carried into left field, tying the game at 1-1.

Kershaw made up for having his seventh pickoff overturned by this time getting Pagan to end the inning. Pagan’s impact carried over into the bottom of the sixth as he tracked down a Jimmy Rollins fly ball to make a leaping catch while crashing into the center field fence.

Chase Utley followed by putting a charge into one that Pagan appeared to have a beat on, however the ball carried just enough to clear the fence in right-center field and the Dodgers were back in the lead, 2-1. Kershaw struck out the first two batters faced in the seventh, giving him 10 on the night.

Posey kept the inning alive by hitting a flare Rollins was unable to corral in his glove. It didn’t have much of an impact as Kershaw got Byrd swinging to strikeout the side. Crawford hit a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, only for the inning to quickly come to an end as Grandal grounded into a double play.

Kershaw struck out Belt to start the eighth, which gave him 12 in the game and 248 on the season, which tied his career high. Giants manager Bruce Bochy argued with the call Belt failed to check his swing and was ejected by Mike Winters for the second time in as many games.

Hector Sanchez pinch hit for Adrianza and singled to left field with two outs. Kershaw stranded the tying run at second base by striking out pinch-hitter Andrew Susac to end the inning. Kershaw’s attempt a third complete game this season nearly came up short as Mattingly made a visit to the mound after consecutive two-out base hits.

Kershaw remained in the game and put the finishing touches on his dominant night by striking Byrd to complete the Dodgers’ sweep of the Giants in a 2-1 win. The strikeout was Kershaw’s 15th of the game, which tied his single-game career high and it came on his 132nd pitch of the game, also tying a career high.

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