Clayton Kershaw eyes 2011 Cy Young award as Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco Giants 2-1
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Friday, September 9 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
The Dodgers brought along the fiery Clayton Kershaw to face the Giants’ Tim Lincecum. The duel was bound to be settled and it was Don Mattingly’s men who secured the victory in closely contested encounter. The Dodgers managed to steer themselves to a win
and 3.5 games difference between the second placed Giants.
Lincecum availed an undecided game while Kershaw moved on to a game victory. The Dodgers hurler produced eight innings against the Giants, conceding three hits and one walk, while snatching up nine strike-outs for his club. He is currently 18-5 and if that
does not make a case for the 2011 Cy Young award, then there is definitely no better chance out there.
Lincecum is still on 12-12 and he pitched eight innings in the game, conceding one run early off six hits. He was able to pick up six strike-outs, which now put him second behind Kershaw with 206-season strike-outs.
Dodgers were put under pressure by the Giants early on through Pablo Sandoval whose single to left-field, allowed Justin Christian to score in the first inning. The run did not count on Kershaw’s stats as shortstop Dee Gordon committed an error earlier on
that allowed Christian on to first base.
Matt Kemp was the man to bring the equaliser to the Dodgers as Juan Rivera’s RBI single allowed for the run in the top eighth. With the game square on 1-1, the winner came from the Dodgers’ bat as Eugenio Velez scored on a Jamey Carroll shot in the top of
the ninth. The Giants were unable to get past closer, Javy Guerra and the team fell behind the Dodgers, 1-2.
Lincecum had a few words of praise for Kershaw, who was drafted two slots ahead in 2006, during the first round of the First Year draft.
"He just throws all his pitches for strikes," Tim Lincecum said of Kershaw. "He doesn't really give in to anybody. You can see his confidence out there when he's pitching. He knows he's good. That's the most important thing as a pitcher, knowing you're going
to get the job done. You see that dedication in him, too."
The Dodgers’ pitcher replied in kind. He was his usual self and talked about Lincecum and his mentality that led him to the game victory against the San Francisco Giants.
"I just try to match him," said Kershaw. "He's an awesome pitcher."
The Dodgers’ man went on to say that everyone knew it was going to be a low scoring game. Giving up a run early will always be a problem. He complemented Lincecum by saying that one needs to avoid conceding runs, no matter what the star is doing on the other
end of the innings.
The Dodgers may still have a chance for the post season. The only thing that remains is winning most of the games in the next three weeks. It will be interesting to see if the Dodgers are up to the task and win all of their remaining games of the regular
season. Only time will tell if they still have a decent chance to get into the postseason.
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